An open letter to India's chargé d'affaires

Honourable Dr Satyanjal Pandey, Charge'd' Affaires, Indian High Commission, Islamabad. Welcome to Pakistan! This opinion piece is free of both politics and realpolitik. It will avoid discussing the irritants that strain our interstate relations. I leave this topic to those well-versed in it, as we have already had enough of that futile debate.

As a Pakistani citizen whose ancestors migrated from India after Partition, I cherish finding a sense of belonging across the border and passionately endeavour for friendly relations in my humble capacity as a journalist. Pakistan is home to millions of families with roots across the great divide, and the same is true for a vast number of Indians.

There are families who have married off their children across the border and lived lives of forced separation. They find themselves trapped in a miserable state of affairs, as the frequent downgrading of diplomatic relations routinely obstructs their lawful movement. The current visa policy, though ostensibly based on reciprocity, remains a major source of distress. Unfortunately, it treats even genuine applicants with suspicion. Furthermore, unannounced bans on processing tourist visas regularly occur, leaving those needing to visit loved ones during times of trial and tribulation to suffer the most. There is simply no mechanism for emergency visas for these families, and even high-profile interventions often fail.

As the spouse of a former Indian national from Chennai, I can recount the grueling expeditions undertaken to obtain visas over the last 25 years of our marriage. There are thousands like me who keep their fingers crossed whenever they wish to join their relatives in times of joy or sorrow. The lengthy timelines, the plethora of documentation and the agonising wait while background checks are cleared make it a telling tale of an accomplished 'mission impossible.' Furthermore, gazetted officials on either side, who are required to sign attestation certificates, rarely find the courage to do so. They simply shy away, despite having known the applicant's family for decades. Such are the steep impediments on the path to a family reunion.

My concern, contention and campaign to ease the visa process are directed primarily at female applicants on both sides. I am well aware of the intense scrutiny male applicants usually undergo; yet, they too have a legitimate case for consideration. While Pakistan and India have failed to implement a pro-tourism visa policy, and business travelers - though rare these days - face their own bureaucratic hurdles, there is a dire need to compassionately devise a friendly visa regime for divided families. They must not fall victim to statecraft and political animosity. These families are vital assets for friendship and goodwill, forming a perfect peace constituency. Their stakes lie entirely in the normalisation of relations, and they are inherently apolitical. There is no justification for penalising them for the rigid policies of their respective governments.

Excellency, through these lines, I humbly request you to look into this issue of grave public importance and adopt a generous approach to immediately resume 'essential' visas for the aggrieved and needy. I understand that policy approval must come from the highest levels of government, but I am confident that with your sagacious input to New Delhi, a magnanimous 'New Deal' can be achieved. My earnest plea to both High Commissions is to think out of the box and cater to the desperate needs of divided families, who remain in constant prayer for a timely visa.

Sorrow and happiness should not be subjected to the litmus tests of Machiavellianism; they must be dealt with compassionately on both sides. This approach will undoubtedly reap dividends. For many, Partition is over. For some, it is not; they are still oiling their diyas, waiting for the day their light might reveal the loved ones Partition left on the other side. May the daffodils of peace blossom! Your Excellency, I rest my case in all humility.