SKARDU: Touching scenes were witnessed at the Skardu airport when members of families divided during the 1948 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars met after years of separation. Amidst tears of joy, some of the people were so excited that they fainted. However, for these families divided by the LoC, crossing the Wagah border is the only existing option to meet their loved ones, which not only costs them considerable amount of time, but also money, which they cant afford. They have requested the governments of Pakistan and India to reopen the Khaplu-Ladakh and Skardu-Kargil roads as was done with other routes on the LoC, to make their lives a little easier.
Dawn reports that on the night of December 31st, 1971 almost all the residents of Chulunkha area of Chorbat valley in Siachen had to vacate their houses after war erupted between Pakistan and India. They resettled in different parts of Baltistan on the Pakistani side. But, unfortunately the dream of the displaced families of Chorbat valley, which comprised Chulunkha Turtuk, Tiaqsi and Dowey Thang, to return to their homes, was never fulfilled despite ceasefire between the two countries.
Haji Abdul Majeed, along with four others reached the Skardu airport after crossing over the Wagah border a few days ago, having travelled a distance of 4,000 kilometers from Tiaqshi area on the Indian side to meet his son on the Pakistani side of the border. If the route is reopened between Khaplu and Ladakh we will reach here in only four hours via Frano border, Majeed said. Travelling through Wagah border is not only time consuming but also very expensive for the poor divided families, he said, summing up the sentiments of all divided families.
Majeed was accompanied by Haji Abdul Karim from Turtuk, Sher Mohammad and his cousin, Shah Jehan Begum from Chulunkha. As they reached Skardu airport to be received by hundreds of their relatives, the tearful welcome was almost too much for the two elder sisters of Shah Jehan Begum and Sher Mohammad as they fainted after embracing their dear ones whom they met after 44 years of separation!
Haji Abdul Karim said when he went to offer Fateha (recitation of a few Aayaats of the Quran followed by prayers for the deceased) at the grave of his elder brother, Subedar Major retired Sher Ali in Rawalpindi he could not control his tears. Sher Ali was serving in the Pakistan Army during the 1971 war. Alas! I could not see my brother during his illness. I tried to come to Pakistan to meet my elder brother and his family a few years ago but could not do so due to th edifficult visa process, Abdul Karim said.
The four guests were taken to Sherthang village of Skardu in a large rally of vehicles and motorcycles, where a feast of celebration attended by hundreds of their relatives awaited them.
Abdul Karim thanked all his relatives in Baltistan for their hospitality and respect, but only hoped the governments of Pakistan and India would heed their request to reopen the Khaplu-Ladakh and Skardu-Kargil roads, so their separation from their loved ones would not be as painful as it now is. Trans Asia
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