April 29th 2025.
Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti, has voiced her concerns about the recent directive from the Indian government to deport all Pakistani nationals. In particular, she has urged the government to consider the plight of women who came to India decades ago, married Indian citizens, and have been living peacefully in the country since then.
Mufti highlighted the humanitarian implications of this decision, especially in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Many of these women have been living in India for 30-40 years, building families and becoming an integral part of society. Deporting them would not only be inhumane, but it would also cause emotional and physical distress for their families, who have no other home.
It should be noted that during the rehabilitation policy for militants under the previous state government, many local youths went to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir for arms training and later returned to India. Some of them had married Pakistani nationals during their time there, and these women also came to Jammu and Kashmir with their husbands. Despite not having official permission to do so, they have been living peacefully in the state.
These women have constantly been fighting for Indian citizenship, as they are originally from PoK, which, as per the Parliament's resolution, is an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir. However, no decision has been made regarding their status, and they continue to live their lives like any other citizen of the Union Territory, raising families and contributing to the community.
It is worth mentioning that their husbands have given up militancy and are now leading normal lives, engaging in various legitimate professions such as business, agriculture, and education. These women have been an integral part of their husbands' rehabilitation and reintegration into society, and it would be unjust to uproot them from their homes now.
In light of these circumstances, Mufti has urged the government to reconsider the decision to deport all Pakistani nationals and adopt a more compassionate approach towards these women, children, and the elderly. It is not just a matter of legalities and paperwork, but a question of humanity and empathy towards these families who have made India their home for decades.
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