Divided love on the Line of Control

Thousands of divided families on either side of the LoC wish to reunite, visa-process biggest hurdle.

MUZAFFARABAD: Imagine falling in love across the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between Pakistan and India in the disputed Kashmir region where visitors can only stay at either side for a maximum of 45 days on a travel permit – not quite the smooth romantic joyride one presumes.

Through the intra-Kashmir bus service, Ajaz Ahmed Mir, a businessman from Chinari,  reunited with his relatives in Indian Kashmir. He fell in love with Kousar Parveen in Srinagar; the two got married in 2009. Parveen travelled to Chinari for the ceremony, but soon after had to travel back after her visa expired.

Thousands of divided families on either side of the LoC wish to reunite, but the visa-obtaining process is complicated and lengthy. It can take two months to two years to get security clearance and travel across the LoC on weekly bus services.

Intelligence agencies operating on both sides scrutinise every travel application. After clearance from home security officials, request for travel is sent to the other side of the LoC for clearance from officials of the side to be visited.

Officials from the Cross LoC Trade and Travel Authority (TATA) say some 10 to 15 per cent applicants get travel permits. Around 17,000 Kashmiris have reunited with their families on either side of the divide since April 2005 when bus services were flagged off between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2010.