A FEW weeks ago I came to Karachi from Hyderabad, Deccan, India, along with my 80-year-old mother who wanted to meet her sisters after several years. All thanks to Shahid Malik, the High Commissioner of Pakistan in New Delhi, who gave a call personally to me on my email wherein I requested him to consider issuing visas to my mother and my family.

Mr Malik assured me that he would grant the visa and I should visit the High Commission office in New Delhi. He asked me not to get disillusioned and disheartened. I am overwhelmed with such a generous man who believes in human values and human relations.

His humane touch will be remembered in years to come as my mother can never travel again to any country because of her deteriorating health. Her only wish was to meet her sisters and I thank Mr Malik and the government of Pakistan for making this possible. I am sure the Indian government understands similar plight of people in Pakistan and will help them in issuing Indian visas. My wish is that both Indian and Pakistan High Commissions continue this human touch and help relatives meet and keep intact the relations irrespective of what politicians think and do.

A mission or a visa camp office periodically at Hyderabad, Deccan, and Karachi will make it easy for scores of people in those cities on both sides of the border to get visas easily without going to New Delhi or Islamabad. Relations will die if such meetings are not encouraged.

Last but not least, I also have not been harassed, questioned or tortured by any police officer when I went for my arrival reporting in Pakistan. I have good memories of the visit and pray and wish good luck to the people of Pakistan.

SHAHBAZ HUSAIN Hyderabad, India