Indian envoy arrives at Edhi Centre to meet Geeta

Indian envoy says he came to give assurance to Geeta as well as bring a message of peace

KARACHI: Indian High Commissioner Dr TCA Raghavan, along with his wife, arrived on Tuesday at Edhi Foundation to meet Geeta, an Indian girl stranded in Pakistan for the past 13 years.

Speaking to the media, the Indian envoy said he came to give assurance to Geeta as well as bring a message of peace. He said that they would do all they could to locate Geeta’s family in India.

“Humanity is a responsibility and both countries should work on it,” he urged.

Raghavan also thanked Edhi for taking care of Geeta before having a one-on-one meeting with the stranded girl.

After the envoy's arrival, renowned human rights and civil rights activist Ansar Burney thanked him for his support in a tweet.

Dear Dr TCA Raghavan thanks for coming to Karachi and to meet Geeta alias Guddy @SushmaSwaraj @MEAIndia

— Ansar Burney (@AnsarBurney) August 4, 2015

Efforts become Fruitful; Geeta alias Guddy may leave for India in next 3/4 days

— Ansar Burney (@AnsarBurney) August 4, 2015

Later on, Minister for External Affairs Government of India Sushma Swaraj also tweeted about the event.

This requires some formalities which we will complete.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 4, 2015

Earlier, a source told The Express Tribune, "The Indian delegation will arrive in Karachi on Tuesday evening and will visit the Edhi Foundation in Mithadar, where the girl resides."


A spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation further confirmed that the meeting would be held between the girl and the delegation later this evening.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also took to social media to announce the visit during which Raghavan will meet Geeta.

Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan Dr.TCA Raghavan is reaching Karachi and will meet Geeta today.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) August 4, 2015

Read: Stranded abroad: India springs into action to reunite Geeta with family

Two days after The Express Tribune published the story of a hearing- and speech-impaired Indian girl stranded in a Pakistani shelter, the Indian government sprang into action to reunite her with her family.

On Monday, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad approached the Foreign Office to seek access to Geeta. “High Commissioner TCA Raghavan, his wife and some senior officials are planning to travel to Karachi Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning to meet Geeta,” said Balbir Singh, an official of the Indian mission. “We want to travel to Karachi Tuesday but if this is not possible, then we will meet Geeta on Wednesday.”

Read: Activists seek to reunite Indian girl with family

Earlier on Monday, Swaraj asked Raghavan to visit Geeta. “I have asked Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr TCA Raghavan to go to Karachi with Mrs Raghavan and meet this girl,” Swaraj said in response to a tweet from Pakistani rights activist Ansar Burney,

Geeta, now 23, is believed to have mistakenly crossed into Pakistani territory as a child. Her story bears striking resemblance to that of Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

Geeta can neither speak nor hear, but she can recognise India on the map and points to the states of Jharkhand and then at Telangana. After the story of Geeta’s ordeal went viral, journalists and rights crusaders from both sides of the border are campaigning to reunite Geeta with her family. Geeta’s story bears striking resemblance with that of Bollywood heartthrob Salman Khan’s flick Bajrangi Bhaijaan. The success of the movie has provided impetus to efforts to trace the family of Geeta.  Activist Ansar Burney, who had raised the issue three years ago during a visit to India, is now spearheading an active Facebook campaign for her.

Read: Indian embassy approaches FO, seeking access to stranded girl

Faisal Edhi said some Indians have approached him to offer help to read Geeta’s writings.

At the same time, Faisal has been contacting people in Jharkhand and Telangana to find out the whereabouts of the girl’s family. “The day is not far when Geeta will be reunited with her family,” he hoped.