Pak woman married to CRPF trooper in Jammu shifted to Attari for deportation

JAMMU — As India has suspended the visas of the Pakistani nationals in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, the Pakistani woman, Minal Ahmed Khan, married to a CRPF trooper in Jammu, has been shifted to Attari on Tuesday for deportation to her native place in Pakistan.

Official sources said, “Following the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Minal Ahmed Khan, a resident of Punjab in Pakistan, who had married a local man (CRPF jawan) in Jammu, was shifted to Attari for deportation.”

Minal had married the CRPF jawan in May last year via video chat and later visited India on a 15-day visa, where she officially married him, they said. The couple was staying in Gharota area on Jammu outskirts, they added.

“Minal Khan, whose visa has expired in March this year, had applied for extension, but the application was pending before the Union Ministry of Home Affairs,” they added.

However, speaking to a selected media before being deported, Minal termed the Pahalgam incident as unfortunate. “Pahalgam incident is very unfortunate and those responsible for it shall not be spared. But, why innocent citizens from both the nations, who are at no fault, are being made to suffer,” she expressed.

“Why are we being separated? Visa has been suspended, how will I meet my husband,” she said and revealed that she was issued a 15-day visa and her Long Term Visa (LTV) expired on March 14. “My in-laws are in shock. We appeal to the Prime Minister to extend my visa so that I can stay with my family in Jammu,” she said with moist eyes.

Meanwhile, the husband of Minal Khan also accompanied her to the Attari Border for her deportation.

Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asked all the States/UTs to ensure that all Pakistani nationals whose visas were revoked must leave India by the fixed deadline. According to the Home Ministry order, those holding SAARC visas must leave India by April 26 and those having visas on arrival, business, film, journalist, transit, conference, mountaineering, student, visitor, group tourist and pilgrim visas must leave India by April 27.

Those having group pilgrim visas given to minorities of Pakistan also must leave the country by April 27 and those having medical visas must leave by April 29. “No new visas will be issued to any Pakistani national,” the Home Ministry said.