Norms eclipsed by India's hubris

"Borrow trouble for yourself, if that's your nature, but don't lend it to your neighbours." English journalist, Rudyard Kipling's classical adage perfectly summarizes India's recent provocative role in escalating bilateral tensions between the two rival nations by restricting humanitarian exchanges.

Over the past one month, New Delhi has consistently ignored the diplomatic route to peacemaking, while simultaneously adopting a war-mongering attitude against Pakistan, with no regard for international law. After unilaterally suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and launching multiple missile attacks targeting civilians across major cities, the Narendra Modi administration has taken the conflict to a whole new level by stopping the movement of pilgrims and the treatment of patients.

Shahid Ali, a father from Larkana, had travelled to India for the treatment of his two children suffering from heart ailments. "After the escalating tensions, both my children were sent back without treatment. What have my children done? Why have they been punished? I do not have enough money to pay for their treatment. After facing many hurdles, I was able to take my children for treatment to India, but now I feel helpless," cried Ali, who requested the government to help him in this difficult time.

Shahid's children are among more than twenty-five patients who have been deported from India. Similarly, many other patients had taken appointments in India for treatment but have been refused visas. Sources have revealed that every year, a large number of patients visit India for treatment due to its affordability.

As per official figures, between 2019 and 2024, approximately 1,228 Pakistani citizens received medical visas for travelling to India. However, the number of visas issued has consistently declined over the past few years. While 554 visas were issued in 2019, only 97 medical visas were issued in 2020, 96 in 2021, 145 in 2022, 111 in 2023, and 225 in 2024.

According to Chaudhry Naseer Kamboh, an international affairs expert, India has violated international human rights by sending back patients who were in desperate need of treatment. "Treatment is the basic need of the sick person. If a patient has paid for treatment in another country, then regardless of whether it is a friendly country or an enemy country, treatment is their fundamental right.

The International Humanitarian Law, Geneva Convention, Hague Convention and the UN Charter specify that hospitals should not be attacked during war. In addition, human populations should not be made targets of war. Women, children and the elderly should be taken care of, and religious places should also be respected. However, India has violated all these laws, completely ignoring human rights in its aggression," said Kamboh.

Similarly, Farah Zia, Director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) believed that it was unfortunate that India had deported patients to Pakistan. "We are looking into this and will give our response soon. The patients should not have returned from India. This is a violation of human rights," asserted Zia.

Apart from restrictions on patients, the recent conflict between Pakistan and India has also brought religious tourism to a halt. The borders of both countries are closed while the Kartarpur Corridor has also been closed by India for an indefinite period.

Palwinder Singh, Head of the Yatra Department of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Amritsar, confirmed that the names of 326 pilgrims had been submitted for visa processing to attend the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June. However, their departure is subject to approval from both the Punjab (India) state government and the central government.

Likewise, another religious event, the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru was scheduled for June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore. However, reports indicate that Indian authorities have barred Sikh pilgrims from attending this event.

On the other hand, it appears increasingly unlikely that Pakistani pilgrims will be able to travel to India in the coming days for the Urs of Hazrat Mujaddid Alf Sani, Hazrat Khwaja Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari, Hazrat Hafiz Abdullah, Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya and Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Due to escalating tensions and the looming threat of war, the borders remain closed, and the issuance of visas between the two countries has been suspended.

"Despite the recent tensions, Pakistan has not cancelled visas for Indian Sikh pilgrims, nor has it stopped them from visiting. Meanwhile, India has imposed a ban on Sikh pilgrims entering Pakistan effective May 7, 2025, and has also closed the Kartarpur Corridor," revealed Ramesh Singh Arora, Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs and President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

In the meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has assured that patients returning from India with incomplete treatment will be treated free of cost.