AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Srinagar, Approximately 350 Pakistani women married to former Kashmiri militants in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) face an uncertain future after being denied citizenship and permission to return home. This was reported by the Hong Kong-based English newspaper South China Morning Post, revealing the plight of these women who find themselves stranded without valid travel documents and limited options for returning to Pakistan.
According to Kashmir Media Service, In 2010, the Indian government initiated a rehabilitation policy aimed at allowing Kashmiri refugees who had fled to Pakistan to return to the occupied territory. While the policy facilitated the return of former militants, it failed to adequately address the needs of their families, particularly the wives who were Pakistani citizens.
These women are caught in a bureaucratic limbo. Pakistan has expressed willingness to accept them back, but the Indian government has not facilitated their return. The current legal framework excludes Muslims from the Citizenship Amendment Act, rendering them ineligible for Indian citizenship. This exclusion leaves these women in a state of legal uncertainty and significant hardship.
The challenges they face are numerous, ranging from economic hardship and loneliness to isolation and uncertainty about their legal status. The situation has sparked calls from rights groups and activists for the Indian government to grant citizenship to these women or facilitate their return to Pakistan. They argue that the current situation violates their human rights and inflicts unnecessary suffering.
The number of affected women is estimated to be around 350, with no response from the Indian government regarding their status or possible resolution. As the plight of these women continues, their struggle reflects broader issues of discrimination and neglect in the region.