Desperation in Barmer: Pakistani Hindu Families Seek Refuge in India

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In the wake of strained relations between India and Pakistan, a wave of anxiety has gripped Pakistani Hindu families seeking a safe haven in India. The Indian government’s recent directive ordering Pakistani nationals without valid Long Term Visas (LTVs) to leave the country by April 27 has left these families fearing for their future.

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A Dire Plea for Safety and Opportunity

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Families, who had sold everything they owned in Pakistan, hoping for a better life in India, are now facing the possibility of returning to a place where they say they have no homes, no livelihood, and no future. The directive, which followed a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, has thrown their lives into uncertainty.

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Barmer Becomes a Haven of Hope – and Desperation

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Over the past few days, the CID-CB office in Barmer has been flooded with Pakistani Hindu families desperately seeking assistance to legalize their stay. The scene is one of urgency and concern as families scramble to complete paperwork and gather the necessary documents, hoping to secure a future in the country they now call home.

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Stories of Sacrifice and Uncertainty

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An 18-member Hindu family, who arrived from Sindh province on April 19, shared their heart-wrenching story. They sold all their belongings in Pakistan before crossing into India, hoping to join their extended family already settled here. They now face the agonizing prospect of being sent back to a country they have left behind.

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“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,” Suresh, a member of the family, pleaded.

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Similarly, four other Hindu families arrived in Barmer alone in April, having crossed the Attari border. They too had sold their homes, lands, and businesses in Pakistan, seeking a fresh start in India.

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A Daughter’s Wedding and a Father’s Heartbreak

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Swaroop Singh’s story exemplifies the human cost of this political turmoil. His daughter is an Indian citizen, and he was eagerly anticipating attending her wedding on April 29. However, the strained relations between India and Pakistan have forced him to return to Pakistan, leaving him heartbroken and unable to share this joyous occasion with his daughter.

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Hope for a Humanitarian Solution

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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 compassion and allow them to remain in the country, offering them a chance at a safe and secure future.

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The Deportation Clock is Ticking

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However, with the April 27 deadline for Pakistani nationals without valid visas having passed, authorities are set to initiate deportation proceedings. A representative from the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) stated that 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 will be compulsorily deported.