Woman asked to leave behind her 8-day-old infant born in J&K
Shyam Sood
Rajouri, April 29: Police in Rajouri district have reportedly detained seven Pakistani nationals who violated the government’s deportation deadline and have initiated their repatriation to Pakistan.
According to a government directive, all Pakistani nationals living illegally in India were instructed to leave the country on or before April 27, 2025.
Though no official statement has been released yet, a senior police officer assured that further details will be shared soon.
Sources indicate that nearly two dozen such individuals have been residing in Rajouri district for an extended period. Most of those detained are women and children who were born in Pakistan and had migrated from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), settling in different areas of Rajouri for several years.
This action follows the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 civilian lives and injured many others. Police sources confirmed that prior notices had been issued to all such individuals, instructing them to leave India. Despite these notices, many Pakistani nationals living in areas such as Budhal, Darhal, and Manjakote failed to comply. Consequently, Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a coordinated operation to detain those who violated the government order.
Those detained will be escorted to the Wagah border, where they will be handed over to Pakistani authorities after completing the necessary formalities.
Among the seven individuals detained in Rajouri are five women and two boys, who have now been transferred to begin the repatriation process.
One of those being sent back is 18-year-old Fardeen @ Aasim Sajad, son of Sajad Ahmad and a resident of Rajnagar, Budhal. Born in Pakistan, Fardeen grew up in Budhal. His father, Sajad Ahmad, had married his maternal cousin, Shabnam Akhtar, who hailed from Gujranwala in PoK, nearly 20 years ago. Fardeen was born in Pakistan, and his mother later obtained a long-term visa (LTV) and settled in Budhal. A few years later, the couple had another son, but Shabnam passed away while living in Budhal. Both children were raised by their grandparents.
Under the new directive, Fardeen-being born in Pakistan-is to be deported. On Tuesday morning, police took him into custody and initiated the repatriation process. Fardeen’s father expressed deep anguish over the decision, particularly due to the fragile condition of Fardeen’s grandmother, who is reportedly devastated by his departure.
The family shared that Fardeen has no one to care for him in PoJK. His maternal grandparents (nana-nani) and maternal aunt (masi) have died, and his two maternal uncles are settled in the UK. Sajad Ahmad appealed to the government to allow his son to remain in India.
Another heartbreaking case from Budhal involves Sara Khan, who married Budhal resident Aurangzeb Khan around seven years ago.
She has now been asked to return to Pakistan, leaving behind her 8-day-old infant, born in Jammu and Kashmir.
Her father-in-law, Zamurad Khan, said Sara received a long-term visa after giving birth to her first son, Umar Hayat Khan (now six), in Pakistan. She recently gave birth to another son just eight days ago in Budhal. While Sara will be returning to Pakistan with Umar, authorities are not allowing her newborn, an Indian citizen by birth, to accompany her.
“We are accompanying Sara and Umar to the Wagah border along with the 8-day-old infant. We will request the authorities either to allow the infant to go with the mother or permit Sara to stay back. We will abide by the decision taken at the border,” Zamurad Khan stated.
