One family had come to India for a daughter’s marriage. Another came so their young children could meet their grandparents for the first time. A woman traveling alone had arrived for the funeral of her mother, whom she had not seen in years.
At the border where Pakistan was cleaved from India decades ago, they pleaded with anyone and everyone for a little more time: to complete the marriage that was just two days away, or to mourn at a grave that was still fresh.
It was not allowed.
India has ordered almost all Pakistani citizens to leave the country, part of the government’s response to a terrorist attack in Kashmir that it has linked to Pakistan. The Pakistani government, which denies any involvement in the attack last week, has retaliated with measures of its own, including the cancellation of most Indian citizens’ visas.
Over the weekend, as people scrambled to comply with the orders, heartbreaking scenes played out at the main land crossing between the two countries.
Entering Pakistan from Attari, India, at the countries’ main land crossing. Pakistanis were given just days to comply with the order to leave.CreditCredit…
Families like Takhat Singh’s, with members on both sides of the border, faced painful separation. Mr. Singh, his younger daughter and his son have Pakistani passports. His wife and his older daughter have Indian ones.