Austria to ease virus rules after vaccine mandate begins

NEW DELHI: When 76-year-old Sikka Khan learnt he had been granted a visa to Pakistan to spend two months together with his elder brother, he burst in tears, and hugged the Pakistani Embassy official in New Delhi who handed him the stamped passport.

Sikka and his 84-year-old brother, Sadiq Khan, had been separated since British India cut up into two impartial states — India and Pakistan — in August 1947.

The partition triggered one of many greatest migrations in historical past, forcing about 15 million Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs to swap nations in a political upheaval that price greater than one million lives.

Sikka and Sadiq have been ultimately in a position to briefly meet earlier this month, in Kartarpur, the place Pakistan has opened a visa-free crossing to permit Indian Sikh pilgrims entry to one of many holiest websites of their faith, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.

When Arab Information reported their story final week, the brothers stated they wished to fulfill once more, and have been hopeful the Pakistani and Indian governments would enable them entry. On Friday, Sikka acquired a Pakistani visa.

“It’s a dream come true. It offers me a lot happiness that I’d be staying with my brother in Pakistan for a while,” he advised Arab Information as he left the Pakistani Excessive Fee in New Delhi with a visa stamped in his passport.

He thanked the media and “particularly Arab Information for taking over the case. I do know with out your assist, this visa couldn’t have come,” he stated.

For the previous seven a long time, India-Pakistan cross-border visits have been restricted by tensions and battle.

The Khan brothers acquired in contact in 2019, when a Pakistani YouTuber, Nasir Dhillon, heard their story as he visited Bogran, their paternal village, the place Sadiq nonetheless lives.

He shared the footage on social media and shortly acquired a message from Indian physician Jagsir Singh, who lives in Phulewala, the village the place Sikka remained together with his mom after the world discovered itself on the Indian facet of the border in 1947.

The YouTuber and the physician helped the brothers meet just about. They’ve been speaking to one another over the telephone a minimum of quarter-hour a day ever since.
 
“Sikka Khan was very excited when he entered the Pakistan embassy,” Singh advised Arab Information. “Individuals within the embassy handled us like VIPs and actually took excellent care of us.”

Sikka, who by no means married and has no youngsters, stated that lastly he’ll be capable to reconnect together with his closest household. Sadiq has 4 sons, two daughters and 10 grandchildren.

“My mom’s soul should be feeling relieved that I’m visiting my brother’s home in Pakistan,” he stated. “I’ll carry the message of affection for my brother from the Phulewala village. Everybody within the village treats him as household.”

Dhillon, whose family was additionally separated by the partition, stated it felt good to be part of the reunion story.

“Allah used me for this good work and it actually feels so good,” he advised Arab Information.

His YouTube channel, Punjabi Lehar, goals to reconnect Pakistani and Indian households that have been divided by the subcontinent’s cut up.
 
“My grandfather at all times desired to go to his outdated village and meet outdated pals,” Dhillon stated. “By connecting folks, I really feel I’m fulfilling the want of my forefathers.”

He stated it was vital that each the Pakistani and Indian authorities lastly transfer on with their variations and let the folks on each side of the border lead a peaceable life.
 
“That is the necessity of the hour,” he stated. “Look how the world has moved forward, however India and Pakistan stay caught with the bags of historical past.”