Pahalgam Terrorist Attack: Barmer Groom Shaitan Singh's Wedding In Pakistan Cancelled Amid Border Tensions

The centuries-old Roti-Beti Ka Rishta between India and Pakistan's Sindh region has been badly affected due to escalated tensions following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

The wedding of Shaitan Singh, a resident of Indriya village in Barmer district of western Rajasthan, scheduled to take place on April 30 in Amarkot, Pakistan, has been stalled because of new restrictions.

Shaitan Singh's baarat (wedding procession) reached the Attari-Wagah border from Barmer on April 24 to cross into Pakistan but was not allowed to proceed and had to return to their village.

Shaitan Singh's brother, Hindu Singh, said, "Wedding preparations were in full swing. It took three years to get the visa, and all of us were very excited about the wedding, but we were stopped at the border. Now we have returned to our village and had to put the wedding on hold as there is no shubh muhurat (auspicious time) for at least one year."

Hindu Singh mentioned that the engagement took place three years ago, but the visa was approved only in February this year and was valid until May 12.

"The family was supposed to reach Amarkot on April 26 and a grand wedding was planned, but it's okay. Shaadi to baad mein bhi ho jaayegi, lekin sarkar ne jo faisla kiya vo theek hai (The wedding can happen later, but the government's decision is right)," Hindu Singh added.

It is worth noting that there is a significant population of Sodha Rajputs in the Sindh province of Pakistan, and families on both sides of the border share close ties.

Women Married in Pakistan Also Facing Problems

Meanwhile, Indian women who are married in Pakistan are also facing difficulties returning to their in-laws as they have not been granted Pakistani citizenship and still hold Indian passports.

Afseen Jahangir from Jodhpur, who was stopped at the Attari border two days ago due to her Indian passport, returned to Jodhpur on Sunday.

She said that she lives in Karachi and had come to India to meet her parents, but now the BSF is not allowing her to cross the border, stating that only Pakistani passport holders are permitted to travel.

A similar situation has been faced by Anuda Bano, who has been married in Pakistan for 20 years. Although her children were allowed to cross over, she herself was stopped at the border.

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