Why 150 Pakistani Sindhi Brides Reached India Following Government Clearance
More than 150 Pakistani Sindhi brides, whose weddings were delayed due to border closures and visa restrictions after Operation Sindoor, have successfully travelled to India via air transit routes following special government clearances. 'The brides and their kin have arrived in India through transit routes', said Rajesh Jhambia.
More than 150 Pakistani Sindhi brides, whose weddings were put on hold following the closure of the Wagah-Attari border and subsequent visa restrictions due to Operation Sindoor, have successfully traveled to India. The arrival comes after special clearances were granted by the Union Government, enabling families to bypass land route restrictions by using alternative air transit corridors.
The Impact of Border Restrictions
For years, cross-border matrimonial alliances between families in Pakistan’s Sindh province and India were facilitated by smooth visa processing and land movement through the Wagah-Attari border. Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev Among 21 Former International Cricket Captains Urge Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif for 'Humane Treatment' of Imran Khan.
However, security protocols shifted following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which led to India launching Operation Sindoor and closing land border crossings. These security measures resulted in visa freezes and left numerous planned weddings in limbo.
Intervention and Alternative Air Routes
To address the stranded marriages, community representatives approached Sant Yudhishtirlal Shadaani, the spiritual head of the Shadaani Darbar - a prominent Hindu religious shrine in Ghotki, Pakistan’s Sindh province. The shrine compiled a list of affected women engaged to men in Indian cities such as Nagpur, Raipur, Jodhpur, and Pune, and petitioned the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for assistance. "There were about 150 brides who were to be married in Nagpur, Raipur, Jodhpur, Pune and other cities in India," noted community leader Rajesh Jhambia told PTI.
He also said that the brides and their kin have arrived in India through transit routes via Muscat, Dubai, Sri Lanka and other countries. The MHA cleared visas under the strict condition that visitors travel exclusively by air. Since April, the brides and approximately 450 accompanying relatives have completed their journeys utilizing transit routes through countries like Dubai, Oman, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Operation Sindoor: Government Reveals Names of 6 Personnel Killed During Mission for First Time.
Current Status and Future Requests
While 150 brides and their family members have safely reached their destinations, community organizers note that approximately 300 additional women in Pakistan are still awaiting visa clearances. Local representatives have formally requested authorities to extend similar facilitation to the remaining families to ensure their weddings can also proceed.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 24, 2026 01:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).