Pakistani family leaves Delhi heart procedure incomplete
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DELHI — May 2, 2024 — The heart procedure for two young sons was left incomplete after a Pakistani family’s medical visas expired suddenly. Shahid Ali brought his sons to Delhi for critical surgery, but the restrictions imposed after the Pahalgam terror attack forced their premature return. Medical visas were cancelled amidst rising tensions, impacting access to essential healthcare services for those caught in the geopolitical crossfire. This article explores the family’s ordeal, and seeks to understand the broader ramifications of political decisions on vulnerable individuals.
pakistani family leaves delhi heart procedure incomplete after visa deadline
a pakistani family’s desperate attempt to secure life-saving heart surgery for their two young sons in new delhi was cut short, highlighting the human cost of strained india-pakistan relations following the pahalgam terror attack.
the backdrop: pahalgam attack and visa restrictions
the indian government issued a “leave india” notice to all pakistani nationals after the deadly terror attack in baisaran near pahalgam, jammu and kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists [1]. this action led to the suspension of visas, except for long-term, diplomatic, and official visas [1]. medical visas were set to expire on april 29 [2].
a family’s plight: hope and heartbreak
shahid ali, from hyderabad, sindh, brought his two sons, talha, 9, and taha, 7, to new delhi in march. the boys suffer from a congenital heart condition requiring urgent medical intervention. after extensive interaction with specialists, multiple tests, and securing medical visas, the family’s hopes were high.
sadly, after the pahalgam incident, the situation changed, we just didn’t have time for our appeals to be heard properly.
shahid ali
mr. ali revealed that he had spent approximately ₹10 million on their travel and treatment. however, the financial burden was secondary to the emotional toll.
the main issue,the
heartbreaklies in the fact that the procedure could not be completeddespite the best efforts of the medical staff in delhi.
shahid ali
the family was forced to return to pakistan without the life-saving procedure being completed.
other stories of hardship
shahid ali’s family is not alone. ayan, another pakistani citizen, had to return from new delhi with his family after being unable to receive treatment for his one-year-old illness. reportedly, the lower half of the youngster’s body was paralysed after he was injured by police during a miscommunication.
punitive measures and their impact
following the pahalgam attack,india implemented several punitive measures against pakistan,including:
- closure of the integrated check post at attari.
- suspension of the indus waters treaty.
- reduction in the personnel strength of pakistani nationals in indian high commissions.
these actions have further complex cross-border relations and impacted individuals seeking essential services like medical care.
plea for assistance
shahid ali has appealed to the government of pakistan to arrange for his sons’ heart procedure to be done in another country. the family’s situation underscores the urgent need for accessible and apolitical healthcare solutions for those caught in the crossfire of international tensions.
faq: india-pakistan medical visas
- why were pakistani medical visas cancelled?
- following the pahalgam terror attack, india suspended visas for pakistani nationals, including medical visas, as part of punitive measures [1].
- what types of visas are available to pakistani citizens?
- pakistanis can apply for business, transit, medical, official, pilgrim, student, and visitor visas [3].
- how long does it take to process a pakistani visa for india?
- visa applications from pakistani citizens can take up to 90 days to process,as they are vetted by the home ministry [3].
