Srinagar: In early 90s, Kashmiris were forced to abandon Indian Occupied Kasmir due to atrocities and inhumane behavior of Indian army. They crossed the border and took refuge in AJK. They were spending a happy life in AJK till 2005. India launched operation ‘Sadbhavana’ to lure in freedom fighters besides giving them amnesty for which freedom fighters refused.
However, some refugees living in AJK went back to Indian Occupied Kashmir along with their Pakistani wives at their own to get financial benefits announced in the scheme. Meanwhile, contrary to the claims, India blacklisted all of them and none of the rehabilitation measures were implemented.
Moreover, they are facing hardships in earning bread & butter for their families due to lack of documentation. Indian government has neither granted them citizenship rights nor they are permitted to come back to Pakistan.
On 21 November 2021, 95 wives of these refugees protested in Srinagar held a press conference. They urged Indian government either to return them back to AJK or give them Indian nationality. International Human Rights organizations and all other relevant institutions including media should raise their voice in favor of those stranded families and urge India either to grant them nationality on the basis of their wedlock to Indian nationals or should send them back to Pakistan, as per their will.
The women said that they had not been provided the permanent resident certificates as promised.
They said from past several years they are demanding the travel documents but nothing is being done to mitigate their sufferings. “Either deport us or give us citizenship rights,” they added.
“Since the time we came here with our husbands and children under the rehabilitation policy we have not been provided with the domicile document,” they said.
“We appeal to the prime ministers and foreign ministers of India and Pakistan that travel documents be issued to us on humanitarian grounds. If they do not give us the travel documents, then we should be made to exit,” the women added.
The women said since their arrival in the territory, they have not been able to visit their families in Pakistan.
“We appeal to the prime ministers and foreign ministers of India and Pakistan that travel documents be issued to us on humanitarian grounds. If they do not give us the travel documents, then we should be made to exit,” the women added.
The women said since their arrival in the territory, they have not been able to visit their families in Pakistan. Web Desk
