LAHORE: Twenty-six Pakistani nationals are stuck in India due to the closure of Wagah-Attari border in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Pakistan and India had closed the border crossing points on March 13 as a part of efforts to check the spread of the coronavirus.

Sobraj, a Pakistani national from Sindh, told Dawn he was visiting India as a pilgrim and his visa expired on March 18. He wanted to go back but the border crossing was closed.

“I don’t have any money to buy food and get shelter now,” he said.

He demanded the Pakistan government to open the border and allow them to return to their homes.

Another Pakistani, who is a US national, identified himself as Ahsan Rehan. He toldDawnhe went to visit his ancestral village in Gurdaspur on March 12 after crossing Wagah border and he had to return to Pakistan on March 18.

He said the Indian and Pakistani governments had closed border crossings due to coronavirus pandemic and he was trapped there.

“I held a meeting with Indian Boarder Security Force officials on March 18 but they did not allow me to cross the border,” he said.

Mr Rehan said they were 26 Pakistanis and their families mostly from Sindh, two Sikhs and two businessmen and their visas had also expired.

“As the traffic was closed in India, they could not go to any other place to stay there,” he complained.

He said the Indian government had announced to extend their visa and they were directed to apply online for it.

“I have internet excess as I am living with my relatives and I have applied for visa extension but other people do not have any opportunity to get their visas renewed,” Mr Rehan complained. He said some of the people he knew went back to the places in India which they had initially come to visit.

He said the Pakistani government should talk to the India to allow them to cross the border.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2020