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Two hearts across border seek touch of Noor: The Indian Express
Chandigarh, Aug 21: Munir was lucky. So was Noor, and the host of traders who are profiting from the Sada-e-Sarhad. But for two hearts separated by politics for two years, good news is still far away. Far because even though the Indo-Pak bus is rolling, the visa authorities are yet to give them the green signal.
Chandigarh, Aug 21: Munir was lucky. So was Noor, and the host of traders who are profiting from the Sada-e-Sarhad. But for two hearts separated by politics for two years, good news is still far away. Far because even though the Indo-Pak bus is rolling, the visa authorities are yet to give them the green signal.
It was in March 2001 that Maqbool Ahmed, a resident of Qadian in Gurdaspur district travelled to Pakistan to get engaged to Tahira, a resident of Faislabad. They were to marry around Christmas that year. Then disaster struck Indian Parliament and their lives.
The terrorist attack on Parliament froze relations between India and Pakistan: The friendship bus was cancelled, the Samjhauta Express refused to chug and planes did not take off.
Worse was still to come as even telephone links were snapped. ‘‘For months we could not even talk and exchanging letters were out of question,’’ says Maqbool. He was a trifle lucky as his sister was based in England, and she kept the communication channels alive.
‘‘The marriage was about to be solemnised and my sister along with her family were already in India,’’ recalls Maqbool. The visas for eight members of his family were also ready.
There were times when their families considered snapping ties, as you cannot have cross-border marriages that cannot be solemnised. Luckily, the cellphone came to the aid. In December last, Qadian had cellular transmitters installed and Maqbool could restablish contact with his in-laws. And this year, the Lahore bus began its journey again. Elated, Maqbool’s sister rushed to India to participate in the wedding.
But the happiness was shortlived. Visits to the Pakistan High Commission have not yielded results so far.
‘‘It is an endless wait,’’ Maqbool says. First they want proof, and when that is provided they want letters from Pakistan, little realising that postal service between the two countries, particularly along border areas, is virtually non-existent.
A fax from his in-laws did not satisfy the foreign office as the number from which it was sent was missing. ‘‘I have been to England, Germany, Holland and Belgium but it’s the visa to Pakistan that is proving to be elusive,’’ Maqbool says. ‘‘It hurts because I along with my family have already been to Pakistan earlier, and on those occasions visas were not a problem,’’ he adds.
There are people picking up his cause. The Indo-Pak Dosti Manch is one. If it does not succeed, may be his in-laws will come over to India for the wedding, Maqbool says. Till then, he and Tahira will have to wait. That is all they have been doing all these years.
The terrorist attack on Parliament froze relations between India and Pakistan: The friendship bus was cancelled, the Samjhauta Express refused to chug and planes did not take off.
Worse was still to come as even telephone links were snapped. ‘‘For months we could not even talk and exchanging letters were out of question,’’ says Maqbool. He was a trifle lucky as his sister was based in England, and she kept the communication channels alive.
‘‘The marriage was about to be solemnised and my sister along with her family were already in India,’’ recalls Maqbool. The visas for eight members of his family were also ready.
There were times when their families considered snapping ties, as you cannot have cross-border marriages that cannot be solemnised. Luckily, the cellphone came to the aid. In December last, Qadian had cellular transmitters installed and Maqbool could restablish contact with his in-laws. And this year, the Lahore bus began its journey again. Elated, Maqbool’s sister rushed to India to participate in the wedding.
But the happiness was shortlived. Visits to the Pakistan High Commission have not yielded results so far.
‘‘It is an endless wait,’’ Maqbool says. First they want proof, and when that is provided they want letters from Pakistan, little realising that postal service between the two countries, particularly along border areas, is virtually non-existent.
A fax from his in-laws did not satisfy the foreign office as the number from which it was sent was missing. ‘‘I have been to England, Germany, Holland and Belgium but it’s the visa to Pakistan that is proving to be elusive,’’ Maqbool says. ‘‘It hurts because I along with my family have already been to Pakistan earlier, and on those occasions visas were not a problem,’’ he adds.
There are people picking up his cause. The Indo-Pak Dosti Manch is one. If it does not succeed, may be his in-laws will come over to India for the wedding, Maqbool says. Till then, he and Tahira will have to wait. That is all they have been doing all these years.