LAHORE:
“Take problems for yourself, if that is your nature, but do not lend it to your neighbors.” The English journalist, the classic adage of Rudyard Kipling perfectly summarizes the recent provocative role of India in the intimacy of the increase in bilateral tensions between the two rival nations by restricting humanitarian exchanges.
During the last month, New Delhi has constantly ignored the diplomatic route to peace, while simultaneously adopting an attitude of the war against Pakistan, without taking into account international law. After unilaterally suspending the Treaty of Indo’s waters and launching multiple missile attacks aimed at civilians in the main cities, the Narendra Modi administration has led the conflict to a completely new level by stopping the movement of pilgrims and the treatment of patients.
Shahid Ali, a Larkana father, had traveled to India for the treatment of his two children who suffer from cardiac ailments. “After increasing tensions, my two children were sent back without treatment. What have my children done? Why have they been punished? I don’t have enough money to pay their treatment. After facing many obstacles, I could take my children to receive treatment to India, but now I feel helpless,” Ali shouted, who asked the Government to help him at this difficult moment.
Shahid’s children are among more than twenty -five patients who have been deported from India. Similarly, many other patients had taken appointments in India for treatment, but visas have been rejected. The sources have revealed that every year, a large number of patients visit India to receive treatment due to their affordability.
According to official figures, between 2019 and 2024, approximately 1,228 Pakistani citizens received medical visas to travel to India. However, the number of visas issued has constantly decreased in recent years. While 554 visas were issued in 2019, only 97 medical visas were issued in 2020, 96 in 2021, 145 in 2022, 111 in 2023 and 225 in 2024.
According to Chaudhry Naseer Kamboh, an expert in international affairs, India has violated international human rights by sending patients who needed desperate treatment. “The treatment is the basic need of the sick person. If a patient has paid treatment in another country, regardless of whether it is a friendly country or an enemy country, treatment is its fundamental right.
The International Humanitarian Law, the Geneva Convention, the Hague Convention and the UN letter specify that hospitals should not be attacked during the war. In addition, human populations should not be the objectives of war. Women, children and the elderly must be treated, and religious places must also be respected. However, India has violated all these laws, completely ignoring human rights in her aggression, “Kamboh said.
Similarly, Farah Zia, director of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission (HRCP) believed that it was unfortunate that India had deported patients to Pakistan. “We are investigating this and we will give our answer soon. Patients should not have returned from India. This is a violation of human rights,” said Zia.
In addition to patient restrictions, the recent conflict between Pakistan and India has also stopped religious tourism. The borders of both countries are closed, while the Kartarpur corridor has also been closed by India for an indefinite period.
Palwinder Singh, head of the Yatra Department of the Parbandhak Committee of Shiromani Gurdwara (SGPC) in Amritsar, confirmed that the names of 326 pilgrims had been subjected to visa processing to attend the anniversary of the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June. However, his departure is subject to the approval of both the Punjab (India) state government and the central government.
Similarly, another religious event, the day of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Guru Sij was scheduled for June 16 in Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore. However, the reports indicate that the Indian authorities have prohibited SIJ pilgrims from attending this event.
On the other hand, it appears increasingly unlikely that pakistani pilgrims Will Be Uble to Travel To India In The Coming Days for The Urs of Hazrat Mujaddid Alf Sani, Hazrat Khwaj Auliya and Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Due to the growing tensions and the imminent threat of war, the borders remain closed, and the issuance of visas between the two countries has been suspended.
“Despite the recent tensions, Pakistan has not canceled the visas for Indian sijs, nor has prevented them from visiting. Meanwhile, India has imposed a prohibition of the Sikh pilgrims who enter Pakistan from May 7, 2025, and has also closed the Kartarpur corridor,” Ramesh Singh Singh Singh Arara, Minister of Minorities for a minor Minorities and president of the people of Pakhhhhheh, Sikh Gurwist Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan Sikhan. Parbandhak committee.
Meanwhile, Punjab Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz has assured that patients returning from India with incomplete treatment will be treated without cost.
