Family struggles to raise toddler after India expels mother to Pakistan
RAJOURI, Indian-administered Kashmir: Ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have left one family struggling and worried after the mother of a toddler was expelled by India.
Two-year-old Ayiza Anjum's father said his daughter had fallen ill since her mother was made to leave the country when India canceled visas of Pakistani nationals in the wake of an attack on tourists in Pahalgam that left 26 dead last week.
Athiya Aslam lived in India on a long-term visa with her in-laws in Kashmir's Rajouri district.
Ayiza's father, Anjum Tanweer, condemned the situation as a 'dire injustice.'
'This [expulsion of Pakistani nationals] by the government according to us is very wrong,' he said. 'Those living illegally [in India] it makes sense for them. But those who have families here, they have been wronged.'
Tanweer said it was the third day that his child had been crying and refusing to drink milk.
'She is sick. It has become very difficult for me. I'm very worried,' the father said.
Tanweer's father appealed to the Indian government to bring back his daughter-in-law and reunite her with Ayiza.
'My small child who is left here is in a lot of distress. She hasn't been able to eat for the last three days,' Tanweer Hussain Khan, the toddler's grandfather, said.
'We are all in a state of shock. I request the prime minister to [bring back] my daughter-in-law who has gone there [to Pakistan], whose child was snatched from her. I have complete hope that you will reunite them.'
On April 22, militants unleashed a deadly carnage in Baisaran valley, a tourist spot in Indian Kashmir, known for its lush green meadows. 25 tourists and a local pony handler were killed in the attack. India has alleged Pakistani involvement, without providing evidence. Islamabad denies the charge but fears continue to rise that New Delhi could carry out retaliatory strikes.
In response, among other measures, New Delhi canceled the visas of Pakistani nationals. However, it reportedly announced NORI (No Obligation to Return to India) visa holders as an exception.
NORI visas are provided to such Pakistani or Bangladeshi nationals who are married to Indian citizens or have close relatives in India.
Kashmir has been disputed between India and Pakistan for decades, with both claiming the valley in full but ruling it in part.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
8 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Crown Prince lauds great efforts exerted to ensure comfort of pilgrims
Saudi Gazette Report MINA — On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman received Eid Al-Adha well-wishers at the Royal Court of Mina Palace on Friday. The reception was attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh, several princes, senior scholars and sheikhs, senior officials of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, ministers, and the commanders of the military sectors and scouts participating in this year's Hajj. In a speech, the Crown Prince, on behalf of King Salman, congratulated the attendees as well as Saudi citizens, expatriates, and the Hajj pilgrims on the blessed occasion of Eid Al-Adha. 'We implore God Almighty to return this blessed occasion to our nation and to Muslims around the world with continued goodness, prosperity, and peace. The continued success we witness today in serving pilgrims is the result of the efforts of our blessed state in serving the Two Holy Mosques, the holy sites, and their visitors,' he said while emphasizing that Saudi Arabia will continue exerting efforts to ensure comfort of the pilgrims. 'We commend the continuous efforts made by you, those working across various government sectors, and the male and female volunteers in implementing the state's policies so as to enable pilgrims to complete their rituals in security and tranquility. We ask God Almighty to continue blessing us with security and safety, and to grant us success in continuing to perform this great duty to the fullest extent possible,' he added. Lt. Gen. Mohammad Al-Bassami, director of Public Security and chairman of the Hajj Security Committee, delivered a speech on behalf of the military sectors participating in the Hajj. He highlighted the government's financial capabilities, human resources, and technical equipment to serve the pilgrims, paying the utmost attention to the Grand Mosque and its visitors. Al-Bassami said that a total of 213,323 personnel from the security and military sectors are participating in implementing the directives of the leadership to facilitate the performance of the Hajj rituals in safety and security, relying on the help of God and fortified by their professional capabilities, field experience, and knowledge gained from the Saudi Vision, led by the Crown Prince, making serving the pilgrims one of their most important priorities and noble goals. He pointed out that the successes achieved by the Hajj security plans to date are the result of the directives of King Salman and the unlimited support of the Crown Prince for the continuous improvement of service to the pilgrims. He highlighted the supervision and follow-up of the minister of interior and chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee over the preparation and implementation of Hajj security plans, as well as the integration of roles among all participating entities. 'All plans are built on precise foundations and clear responsibilities, supported by an advanced operations center that plays a significant role in managing the security and service system. The center utilizes advanced technologies and modern surveillance systems, making immediate decisions through data analysis and risk assessment to ensure the security and safety of pilgrims,' he added.
Saudi Gazette
12 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Crown Prince receives Pakistan prime minister
Saudi Gazette report MINA — Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at Al-Mina Palace on Friday. During the reception, congratulations were exchanged on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. The two leaders reviewed historical relations between the two brotherly countries, prospects for bilateral cooperation, and ways to develop it in various fields. Regional developments and efforts to achieve security and stability were also discussed. The reception was attended by Prince Saud bin Mishaal, Deputy Governor of Makkah Region, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, Minister of Interior, Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defense, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of State, Cabinet Member and National Security Advisor Dr. Al-Aiban, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of Information Salman Al-Dosari, Chief of General Intelligence Khalid Al-Humaidan, and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki. From the Pakistani side, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Hafiz Syed Asim, Minister of Interior Mohsin Raza Naqvi, Minister of Information Atallah Tarir, Ambassador to the Kingdom Ahmed Farooq, First Secretary to the Chief of Army Staff Major General Muhammad Jawad Tariq, Military Secretary to the Prime Minister Tajdeed Mumtaz, and Chief of Protocol to the Prime Minister Tipu Sultan attended.
Saudi Gazette
14 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
World's highest railway bridge opens in conflict-hit Kashmir
SRINAGAR — The world's highest railway bridge, an ambitious piece of engineering across a mountain valley in Kashmir, was opened Friday by Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, just weeks after a deadly tourist massacre in the Himalayan region sparked a brief conflict with neighboring Pakistan. Modi's visit to India-administered Kashmir was his first since a brief but deadly conflict between India and Pakistan in April. The nuclear-armed neighbors traded missiles, drones, and artillery shelling for four days after New Delhi blamed the massacre on its neighbor, which Pakistan denies. Decades in the making, the arched Chenab Bridge sits 359 meters (about 1,180 feet) above the river of the same name – that's 29 meters (over 95 feet) higher than the top of the Eiffel Tower. Costing more than $160 million with a length of 1,315 meters (4,314 feet), the bridge is part of the first railway link between Kashmir and the rest of India. Modi's Hindu-nationalist government has moved to integrate the Muslim-majority region with the rest of the country, including revoking a constitutional provision that allowed it to set its own laws in 2019. The Himalayan region of Kashmir is claimed by India, Pakistan and China. All three administer a part of the region, one of the most militarized zones in the world. In addition to the Chenab Bridge, Modi also inaugurated the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link project, which connects key cities in India-administered Kashmir to the rest of India. For Modi, who swept to power more than a decade ago on a ticket of nationalism and a promise of future greatness, investments in infrastructure like the Chenab Bridge and the broader rail link project can be seen as a powerful tool for social integration and political influence. Since he was first elected in 2014, the prime minister has rapidly expanded the region's road and rail connectivity, building networks that connect disparate towns with major cities. In 2019, New Delhi revoked a constitutional provision giving India-administered Kashmir the autonomy to set its own laws. The southern and eastern portions of the region known previously as the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir became two separate union territories, bringing them under direct control of New Delhi – a move Modi claimed would promote stability, reduce corruption and boost the economy. The Chenab Bridge is being hailed as a major win for Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party government. His administration has poured billions into upgrading India's old and outdated transport network, part of its vision to transform the country into a developed nation by 2047. Among these ambitious projects is the construction of several tunnels and highways in the mountainous Himalayan region which has been criticized by some environmentalists who say the heavy construction could damage fragile topography already feeling the effects from the climate crisis. Modi's Char Dham Highway project, a multimillion-dollar infrastructure plan to improve connectivity in the state of Uttarakhand, came under fire in November 2023 when an under-construction mountain tunnel collapsed, trapping dozens of workers inside for several days with little water and oxygen. In August that year, more than a dozen workers were killed after a bridge under construction collapsed in the northeastern state of Mizoram. In June, a four-lane concrete bridge that was being built across the River Ganges in the eastern state of Bihar collapsed for the second time in just over a year, raising questions about the quality of its construction. — CNN
