‘Sold everything, how can we return': Families in despair amid strained India-Pak ties
'India is good; there's nothing left for us in Pakistan. Prices are high, and there's no work,' says a young child from a Pakistani family, standing outside the CID-Crime Branch (CID-CB) office in Barmer. Their family, like many others, sold everything they had in Pakistan before coming to India, hoping for a better future. Now, with the Indian government's directive ordering Pakistani nationals without valid Long Term Visas (LTVs) to leave the country by April 27, these families are left with uncertainties and possibility of being sent back to a place where they say they have no homes, no livelihood, and no future.
The directive, which follows the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, has thrown these families into a state of deep anxiety. While they arrived in India seeking safety and opportunities, they now face an uncertain future. Many of them had sold off their properties, businesses, and even homes in Pakistan before crossing into India.
For the past few days, the CID-CB office in Barmer has seen a surge of Pakistani families, many of whom are pleading for assistance to legalise their stay. Families were seen rushing to complete paperwork and gather the necessary documents in a last-ditch effort to stay in the country they now consider home.
18-member family pleads for stay
Among those seeking help was an 18-member Hindu family which recently arrived from Sindh province on April 19. Six women, five children, and seven men visited the CID-CB office, desperately pleading with officials to allow them to stay in India.
Suresh, a member of the family, shared their plight, saying, 'We arrived on April 19 on a 45-day visa to visit relatives. Before coming, we sold everything we had in Pakistan. Our extended family is already settled here. There's no one left for us back there. We have applied for Long Term Visas so we can stay here permanently.'
'What happened in Pahalgam is tragic, but we have nothing to do with it. We only want peace and a future for our children. We request the government to allow us to stay in India', said.
'We sold everything, how can we return now?'
Also Read:India bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels spreading misinformation after Pahalgam attack
Similar stories are unfolding across Barmer, as several other families have made similar appeals. Four Hindu families—comprising 33 members—arrived in Barmer alone in April, crossing through the Attari border. They too had sold their homes, lands, and businesses in Pakistan before migrating, hoping for a new beginning in India.
Among them is Satradas from Umerkot, who arrived with his seven family members on April 17. They have already applied for LTVs, hoping to settle permanently. Hamirmal from Sindh province, who came about 20 days ago with his wife and four children, is also awaiting a decision.
Jalamsingh from Umerkot arrived a month ago on a medical visa with his wife. Their son, an Indian citizen, is already settled here. They too have applied for a Long Term Visa and are seeking permanent settlement.
A father forced to return without attending his daughter's wedding
One particular family affected by the directive is that of Swaroop Singh. While his daughter is an Indian citizen, Swaroop Singh lives in Pakistan with his wife and two sons. His daughter's wedding is scheduled for April 29, but due to the strained relations between India and Pakistan, he is being forced to return to Pakistan today. Swaroop Singh had been looking forward to attending his daughter's wedding, but now, he is returning with a heavy heart.
These families have formally applied for Long Term Visas and have informed intelligence agencies about their intentions to stay in India. They now hold on to the hope that the Indian government will show humanitarian consideration and allow them to remain in the country.
However, with the April 27 deadline having passed, authorities are set to initiate deportation proceedings against Pakistani nationals who have failed to leave India within the stipulated time or who do not have valid visa extensions.
Responding to the issue, an official from the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) said, 'Following the government directives, we have asked the Pakistani nationals to leave India before the set deadline. Now, as the deadline has passed, we will act according to the government's directions.'
'Pakistani nationals residing in India on visas other than Long Term Visas (LTVs) must return to Pakistan via the Attari Border by April 27, and those staying on medical visas must leave by April 29. Any Pakistani national who fails to leave India within the stipulated time, as directed by the Government of India, will be compulsorily deported'. Barmer SP Narendra Singh Meena said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
'Need Ties With Both India & Pakistan': US Central Command Chief Gen Kurilla
Last Updated: General Michael Kurilla, who is set to retire this summer, commended Pakistan as an 'outstanding partner' in counterterrorism US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael Kurilla recently underscored the importance of the United States maintaining relationships with both India and Pakistan. Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee, Kurilla emphasised Pakistan's critical role in counterterrorism efforts against the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-KP), as reported by the Hindustan Times. General Kurilla, who is set to retire this summer, commended Pakistan as an 'outstanding partner" in counterterrorism. This statement comes at a time when India has been increasing its diplomatic efforts to highlight Pakistan's involvement in cross-border terrorism, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22. Indian officials, including external affairs minister S Jaishankar, have consistently cautioned against equating victims and perpetrators of terrorism. Kurilla clarified that the US relationship with India and Pakistan is not mutually exclusive. 'We need to have relationships with both Pakistan and India. It is not a binary choice where having one relationship excludes the other," he stated, encouraging lawmakers to recognise the benefits of each relationship. The CENTCOM chief detailed Pakistan's actions against IS-KP, a group based in Afghanistan that he characterised as highly active in planning global terrorist activities, including those targeting the US. He explained that while the Afghan Taliban has taken action against IS-KP, many fighters have relocated to the tribal areas along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. 'Through an excellent partnership with Pakistan, they have targeted and eliminated dozens of IS-KP members. With the intelligence we provide, they have captured at least five high-value IS-KP individuals," said Kurilla. He also highlighted Pakistan's extradition of Mohammad Sharifullah, alias Jafar, who was involved in the August 2021 Kabul airport attack that killed 13 American soldiers. Kurilla revealed that Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, personally informed him of Jafar's capture and the willingness to extradite him. General Kurilla stressed that Pakistan's partnership in countering terrorist threats in Central and South Asia 'will only become more significant as the Taliban continues to face security challenges within Afghanistan". First Published:
Economic Times
30 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Modi 3.0 has got inflation & growth right but jobs, land reforms are still a challenge
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi enters in his 12th year leading the government, India's economy stands on solid macroeconomic foundations, but economists warn that generating jobs and reviving private investment will be key challenges in the years ahead, TOI has reported. With GDP growth averaging 6.2 per cent over the past 11 years (2014-15 to 2024-25), and inflation largely within the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) comfort zone, the government has pointed to a decade of fiscal prudence and economic stability. If the distortions of the COVID-19 pandemic years (2020-21 contraction and 2021-22 rebound) are excluded, the average growth rate stands at a healthier 7.1 per cent. Even though, the World Bank has brought down India's growth projection at a steady 6.3 per cent, New Delhi continues to be the fastest growing economy in the world, ready to get past the growing global uncertainties. Also Read: Why is India outpacing China, US, EU and Germany? 'The economy delivered an average growth of 6.2% and an inflation rate of 5% over the last 11 years, despite the pandemic,' TOI quoted Crisil chief economist DK Joshi as saying. 'The economy is currently in a healthy shape with inflation under control, corporates and banks having healthy balance sheets, a low current account deficit, and ample forex reserves. Rains and crude oil prices, which are luck factors, are expected to be favorable this year. We expect India's GDP to grow at 6.5% in fiscal 2026, with risks tilted to the downside due to weak global prospects amid heightened uncertainty.' Inflation during the Modi years averaged 5 per cent, compared with 8.1 per cent under the previous UPA government. While part of this can be attributed to better food price management and more responsive supply chains, economists also credit global factors, particularly lower crude oil June 10, 2014, when Modi took office, the Indian crude oil basket cost $107 per barrel (Rs 6,331 per barrel at Rs 59.26/$). Eleven years later, it stood at $67.38 per barrel or Rs 5,711 at Rs 85.60/$, a drop of nearly 11% in rupee Sanyal, chief economist and head of research at Bandhan Bank, highlighted the Centre's cautious approach to spending. 'India demonstrated exemplary commitment to fiscal prudence and discipline over the last one decade despite the unprecedented Covid shock. Accordingly, India's public debt profile turns out to be a strong advantage today, much in contrast to the current global trend. Lower public debt, along with better anchored inflation and current account deficit, political stability and strong domestic demand amidst the current uncertain global economic environment, has enormously enhanced India's attractiveness as a preferred investor destination over the past decade.'Despite the macroeconomic optimism, the biggest concern going forward is the lack of private sector investment and sluggish job creation. Corporates are yet to expand capacity in a meaningful way, a move seen as essential to creating new jobs, particularly in the organised say the government must revive key reforms to unlock private capital. Land acquisition laws and labour flexibility have long been seen as barriers to business investment. Early efforts in 2014 to ease land acquisition rules met with political backlash and were shelved. On labour, the government passed four major codes, but has yet to notify them, citing delays from opposition-led and the rapid rise of AI have further complicated job creation, especially in sectors where automation is replacing entry-level the BJP reliant on coalition partners after the recent election, bold reforms like strategic disinvestment and asset monetisation, key tools for funding capital expenditure, have been pushed to the back burner. However, a surge in political confidence post-election may now allow the government to revisit these decisions. India has been negotiating several free trade agreements, which are expected to bring down tariffs. Experts warn that unless land and labour reforms are addressed in parallel, Indian industry may struggle to compete under these FTAs. (With inputs from TOI)
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
India closely watches US-China trade talks amid rare earth tensions
As trade negotiations between the United States (US) and China near a 90-day deadline, global concerns over rare earth supply chains are intensifying. The US has indicated a possible easing of technology export restrictions in exchange for improved access to rare earth shipments from China, but observers remain cautious about the likelihood of immediate progress. The rare earth dispute has prompted countries to reassess their reliance on Chinese supplies. The US has announced a $39 million investment to develop a domestic rare earth supply chain . India, while not directly involved in the negotiations, is exploring options to reduce its dependence on China, though progress remains limited. Industry impact and government response The Indian automobile and electronics sectors have started to feel the effects of supply constraints. Auto and smartphone manufacturers are reporting falling inventories of rare earth materials and magnets, with potential production cuts expected as early as June. A recent report by Crisil Ratings highlighted the risk to India's electric vehicle (EV) rollout, noting that several new EV models rely on permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) platforms. While most automakers currently maintain four to six weeks of inventory, a continued shortage could impact production schedules from July. Maruti Suzuki is reported to be adjusting its production plans for its upcoming e VITARA model, reducing output targets for the July–September period due to shortages of rare earth magnets. Diversification efforts underway India has responded by stepping up support for Indian Rare Earths Limited and seeking international partnerships. At the India-Central Asia Dialogue held in New Delhi, India and five Central Asian countries expressed interest in collaborating on critical mineral exploration. They also proposed convening the India-Central Asia Rare Earth Forum to advance these discussions. While India is not a direct participant in the ongoing US-China talks, it is assessing the developments and evaluating potential strategies to secure its own rare earth supplies.
