Pakistani father praises COAS for arranging treatment after India expels ailing children

Express Tribune

06-05-2025

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The father two children sent back by India last week has praised Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir for taking responsibility for the treatment of the ailing children.
The children, Abdullah (9) and Mansa (7), both suffering from congenital heart disease, had travelled with their father, Shahid Ahmed, to Faridabad, India, in April for life-saving surgery.
After successful pre-surgical evaluations on April 22 and 23, the family was ordered by India's Foreigners Regional Registration Office on April 24 to leave the country within 48 hours.
The expulsion came in the wake of the Pahalgam attack in Pahalgam area of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), after which the Indian government took the controversial step of deporting even Paskistani patients who were undergoing treatment.
Shahid Ahmed, a resident of Hyderabad, Sindh, condemned the decision, calling it 'inhumane and unethical.'
'There is no religion greater than humanity. Even Hinduism teaches compassion,' he said, adding that it took him seven years to secure an Indian visa for his children's treatment.
On their return to Pakistan, General Munir facilitated the children's admission to the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) in Rawalpindi. Shahid expressed deep gratitude to the Army Chief, saying the care at AFIC has far exceeded his expectations.
Dr Mehboob Sultan of AFIC confirmed both children suffer from Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital condition involving heart defects and underdeveloped pulmonary arteries.
Their treatment will include phased surgeries, with the first phase set to take place in the coming days.
Brigadier Dr Khurram Akhtar stated that AFIC is fully equipped to treat complex cardiac conditions in children and adheres to international medical standards. 'There is no need to send such cases abroad. We have performed numerous successful surgeries here,' he added.
Tensions between India and Pakistan reached new heights following a deadly attack on April 22, 2025, when 26 men were killed at a tourist site in Pahalgam, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India swiftly blamed Pakistani elements for the attack, but no evidence was presented to support the claim, which Islamabad vehemently denied.
In response to the attack, India's Cabinet Committee on Security approved several retaliatory measures on April 23, including the closure of the Wagah-Attari land transit point, a travel advisory urging Indian nationals to avoid Pakistan, a formal notification of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and the revocation of multiple categories of visas for Pakistani nationals.
On April 24, Pakistan's National Security Committee (NSC) issued a stern warning, declaring that any attempt by India to block the flow of water into Pakistan would be considered an act of war. The NSC also approved the closure of the Wagah border crossing.
The following day, April 25, the Pakistan Senate unanimously passed a resolution rejecting India's allegations regarding the Pahalgam attack, calling them baseless and politically motivated.
Tensions further escalated on April 26, when the Pakistani High Commission in London was vandalised during a protest by hundreds of pro-India and pro-BJP demonstrators.
The protesters caused property damage, including broken windows and the splashing of saffron paint. Pakistan accused India of encouraging the violence, with Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar condemning the acts as being supported by "Indian state and agencies." British police later arrested two individuals suspected of involvement in the incident.