A major humanitarian initiative is underway to assist Pakistani Hindu families facing severe transit restrictions following the suspension of movement between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Raipur-based religious organization Shadani Darbar has compiled a fresh proposal covering approximately 600 Pakistani Hindus to seek special visa clearances from the Union Home Ministry. This follows a previous successful effort between April and June, when around 150 Pakistani Hindu brides tied to Indian grooms managed to reach India under special Ministry intervention.
Composition of the New Visa Request List
The newly prepared list of 600 individuals focuses primarily on women scheduled to marry Indian citizens, alongside their immediate family members. Furthermore, it incorporates divided family members who have remained separated across the border since Partition. According to representatives of Shadani Darbar, the candidate pool extends beyond the Sindhi Hindu community to include Gujarati, Marwari, Saraiki, and other Hindu ethnic groups residing in Pakistan. Once the roster is finalized, it will be formally submitted to the Union Home Ministry for review and travel clearance.
Bridging Decades of Cross-Border Separation
Udaylal Shadani, secretary of Shadani Darbar in Raipur, highlighted that the institution also maintains its historical seat in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The organization's ninth spiritual head, Sant Yudhishthirlal, who has resided in Raipur since 1968, played a pivotal role in presenting the initial case of the 150 brides to the Indian government. Sant Yudhishthirlal noted that decades after the 1947 Partition, numerous families remain split between the two nations, with individuals settled in India while their parents or siblings continue to live in Pakistan. The total shutdown of direct transport links made family reunions virtually impossible, prompting this structured outreach.
Third-Country Air Routes Amid Border Closures
Due to the continued closure of the primary overland transit point at the Attari-Wagah border, obtaining an Indian visa does not guarantee direct entry from Pakistan. During the first phase, the 150 arriving brides were forced to undertake indirect air journeys via third-party transit hubs. They traveled through international locations including Muscat, Dhaka, Colombo, Dubai, and Qatar before landing in India. Representatives noted that until land borders are reopened, the 600 individuals on the new list will likely need to rely on similar indirect flight corridors to reach their families in India.
