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NDTV
26-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Band, Baaja, Wedding In Limbo: Indian Groom Stuck At Attari-Wagah Border
Jaipur: Rajasthan's Shaitan Singh got engaged to Kesar Kanwar from Pakistan's Sindh province four years ago. As the groom's family struggled for years to get visas, the cross-border wedding was hit by another hurdle when the government closed the Attari border on Thursday. With his wedding attire ready and all set to tie the knot in Pakistan's Amarkot city on April 30, Singh along with his family and 'baraat' set out from Barmer district for the Attari border on Tuesday. But by the time they reached there, authorities refused to let them cross the border as India on Wednesday ordered immediate shutdown of the Attari-Wagah border as part of a series of retaliatory steps following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack. "We've waited a long time for this day," said Singh, adding that after years of efforts it was only recently, February 18, that he, his father and brother were granted visas. The groom's cousin Surendra Singh said the situation has left both families disheartened. "Our relatives from Pakistan had come here but they had to return. We are very disappointed. Terror attacks cause a lot of damage. Relations get spoiled. Movement on the border stops," he said. As the cross-border wedding remains disrupted. The visa of Singh, a resident of Indroi village in Barmer district, is valid until May 12, giving the families a glimmer of hope that the wedding might still happen if the border reopens in time. "Whatever the terrorists did was wrong. The wedding has been interrupted. What to do? It is a matter of borders," the groom said. The cross-border marriage was arranged through family ties, a common practice among the Sodha Rajput community, which has a significant population in Sindh province of Pakistan. Many of them prefer marrying within the community, and often seek matches across the border to preserve their cultural traditions. Singh, who works in the finance sector, is one of many in the region with relatives in Pakistan. For now, his family waits in hope that the situation improves and the border reopens in time for the marriage to go ahead. India on Wednesday downgraded diplomatic relations with Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were gunned down. A Cabinet Committee on Security meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took a series of retaliatory steps, including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, revocation of visa services of Pakistani nationals and immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Band, baaja, baraat but no bride: Wedding in limbo as groom stuck at Attari-Wagah border
Representative Image (AI) BARMER: Shaitan Singh from Rajasthan's Barmer district , who got engaged to Kesar Kanwar from Pakistan's Sindh province four years ago, saw his long-awaited wedding plans collapse after the Attari border closure , according to news agency PTI. With his wedding outfit ready and a 'baraat' prepared to travel to Pakistan's Amarkot city for the ceremony on April 30, Singh set off from Barmer on Tuesday. However, by the time the family reached the Attari border, authorities informed them that the crossing had been suspended. India had ordered an immediate shutdown of the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday as part of strong retaliatory measures following the Pahalgam terror attack . 'We waited so long for this day,' Singh said. After years of trying, Singh, his father, and his brother were finally granted visas on February 18, but the sudden closure dashed their hopes. Surendra Singh, the groom's cousin, said both families were left heartbroken. 'Our relatives from Pakistan who had come here had to return. Terror attacks spoil everything — relations and movement at the border both get affected,' he said. Despite the disruption, Singh, a resident of Indroi village, still holds on to hope. His visa is valid until May 12, giving a slim chance that the wedding could happen if the border reopens soon. 'Whatever the terrorists did was wrong. Our marriage is now stuck. But what can we do? It's a matter related to borders,' Singh added. The cross-border marriage was arranged through family ties, a common tradition among the Sodha Rajput community , which has deep roots in Pakistan's Sindh province. Many in the community prefer marrying within the group to preserve cultural traditions, often seeking matches across the border. Singh, who works in the finance sector, is among many locals with family ties to Pakistan. For now, the groom and his family can only wait and hope for the situation to improve. India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. The Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced several measures including suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, halting visa services for Pakistani nationals, and shutting the Attari land transit post immediately.
Mint
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Pahalgam terror attack: Barmer groom's wedding plan in limbo after Attari border closure
Amid the brutal terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on 22 April, following which India shut down the Wagah-Attari border checkpost, it disrupted the life of a groom from Rajasthan's Bikaner as his wedding plans now hang in limbo, reported Hindustan Times. According to the report, the groom, identified as 25-year-old Shaitan Singh, was all set to travel to Pakistan for his wedding on 23 April via the Attari border and tie the knot with his bride on 30 April. Singh was engaged four years ago to Kesar Kanwar, a resident of Amarkot district in Pakistan's Sindh province. His engagement was arranged according to traditional customs, which are common in border regions where communities on both sides share deep cultural and familial ties. Singh's family struggled to secure visas to travel to Pakistan to finalise marriage, and after three years of persistent efforts, the family received visa clearance on 18 February. After this, both families set the wedding date for 30 April as the visa validity period was to expire on May 12. But as India shut the gates of Attari border in the aftermath of Pahalgam terror attack, his bride now anxiously awaited the arrival of the baraat. The border closure has dashed the hopes of both the families and the wedding now is in limbo. Expressing their disappointment at the entire incident, the groom's kin said, as Hindustan Times quoted, "We waited for years and followed every legal process, but now everything is uncertain." Singh said, 'After years of waiting and all the struggles we went through to make this wedding happen, it feels like everything has come to a halt. We were so close, but now I don't know what will happen next. I feel totally helpless at this stage." Taking strong measures in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 tourists were killed, India not only shut the borders with Pakistan, but also stopped all trade with the neighbouring country. India also directed people who crossed over with endorsements to return through that route before 1 May. The Indian government no longer allowed Pakistani nationals to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. India also suspended visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect and directed them to leave India by 27 April, except for medical visas which have a deadline till 29 April. The overall strength of India's High Commissions in Pakistan decreased from 55 to 30 from 1 May onwards. Among others, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with immediate effect. First Published: 25 Apr 2025, 07:02 PM IST
News18
25-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
Indian Groom Left With Baraat To Bring Pakistani Bride Home. Then Pahalgam Happened...
Last Updated: India imposed strict measures against Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, expelling Pakistani nationals and closing the Wagah-Attari border In response to the terror attack in J&K's Pahalgam which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, India has imposed strict measures against Pakistan. These include expelling Pakistani nationals from the country and shutting down the Wagah-Attari border checkpost. This decision has disrupted lives on both sides of the border, most notably that of Shaitan Singh, a groom from Bikaner, Rajasthan, whose wedding plans now hang in limbo. His bride remains stranded in Pakistan, with the newly enforced border restrictions turning their union into a tale of love halted by geopolitics. Following the Pahalgam attack, India announced it will revoke all visas issued to Pakistani nationals from April 27 and urged Indians in Pakistan to return immediately. In retaliation, Pakistan cancelled visas for Indian nationals under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme, giving them 48 hours to leave, except for Sikh pilgrims. Shaitan Singh and his family were en route to Pakistan for his wedding on April 23 when they were halted at the Attari border. The closure has left the bride in Pakistan distraught, as she anxiously awaited the arrival of the baraat. Both families had completed their wedding preparations, only to have their hopes dashed by the sudden border closure. Singh expressed his disappointment, stating that the terrorist actions were reprehensible and lamenting the impact on his wedding plans. His brother, Surendra Singh, explained that their family has deep roots in Pakistan, with relatives still residing there since the partition. The border closure has created a significant dilemma for Indian citizens with familial ties across the border. Those who have already crossed into Pakistan with valid documentation have until May 1 to return via the same route. First Published:
New Indian Express
25-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Scramble at Attari as Pakistan nationals rush to leave, Afghan trade uncertain
CHANDIGARH: Since Thursday morning, Pakistani nationals currently visiting India have been making a beeline for the Attari-Wagah border to return to their country. There is also uncertainty over trade with Afghanistan that carries on through this border. They have a 48-hour deadline to leave the country following India's decision to suspend the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) in the wake of Tuesday's Pahalgam massacre. By morning, several Pakistani families had reached the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari, near Amritsar, to return home via the Attari-Wagah land route. A family from Karachi said they went to Delhi to meet their relatives. 'We came here to attend an event. We had a visa for 45 days but must leave India in this condition. We came here on April 15. Closing the border is a wrong move. There should be brotherhood between the two nations. But whatever is happening is wrong,' said a family member who did not give his name. Condemning the Pahalgam attack, Pakistani national Mansoor, who came to India on a 90-day visa with his family on April 15, said, 'It should not have happened. Whosoever has done it, it is completely wrong. We want mutual brotherhood and friendship between the two nations. But we are returning home today.' A few Indian nationals with visas to travel to Pakistan also reached the ICP on Thursday hoping to go to Pakistan, including a Gujarat family who intended to meet their relatives in Karachi. 'We got the visa two months back,' said an elderly family member. However, when told that the Attari land-transit post had been shut, he said they were prepared to return home if asked. Two men from Rajasthan, who reached Amritsar yesterday evening to go to Pakistan, said they were unaware of the shutting down of the Attari land-transit post. Shaitan Singh, who was to go to Pakistan for his wedding, said, 'What the terrorists have done is wrong. We are not being allowed to go to Pakistan as the border is closed; let us see what will happen now.' Surinder Singh, who was going to the neighbouring country for his brother's wedding, said the wedding will have to be postponed. 'My grandmother and her four sons stay in Pakistan, and her one son stays in India. The attack on tourists in Pahalgam was very wrong.' Sources said that approximately a few hundred Indians in Pakistan are likely to return before May 1.
