Crossing borders: Why every Indian should visit Pakistan

[nForce]

Choro yar. Indian Govt Pakistanio ko Tourist Visa offer he nahe kartii...

What..this so wrong. May be due to the present political situation. I hope things will improve in future.

 

[Indika]

Indians also come to Pakistan for medical treatment, nothing new.

That would be news for me. What kind of treatment ? Any news sources ?

May be he is referring to the rats which illegally cross the border, get shot and are lucky to escape alive.

Instead of uniting lets just be good neighbours after resolving kashmir

Makes sense, past cannot be undone. But no way kashmir will be resolved. If islamists in pakistan harp on kashmir, radicals in india will hang on to akhand bharat. Trying to solve will only lead to more grief like partition has done.

 

[nForce]

Makes sense, past cannot be undone. But no way kashmir will be resolved. If islamists in pakistan harp on kashmir, radicals in india will hang on to akhand bharat. Trying to solve will only lead to more grief like partition has done.

We should resolve the issue. By resolving, I mean we should reach a mutual understanding.

 

[livingdead]

90% of our Medical tourism comes from Afghanistan, so where does the other 10% come from? I've heard of and i've seen Indians from rural villages coming to Lahore and Islamabad for medical treatment.

lol, hospitals in India are cheaper, so are medicines. Even travel to nearest urban center is cheaper in India. Who are these Indians from rural village going to lahore for treatment?

 

[friendly_troll96]

Within a few hours of being in Lahore, it seemed that the entire city was going out of its way to welcome me. —Photo by author.
I said, “I want to go to Pakistan…” but, I couldn’t finish before the reactions came flying in:

“There are so many new places you can see, then why Pakistan?”

“If a war starts between India and Pakistan, the first thing they will do is seal the borders and you will be left on the other side forever.”

“Believe us, it’s not safe to go there. You won’t even get a US visa after this.”

Born and brought up in a Punjabi family, with an understanding of the Muslim world which was unfriendly, to say the least; these reactions were not all that surprising for me.

But there was still the question of whether a good part of this resentment did not flow from ‘Islamophobia’ or the lens through which the world sees Pakistan i.e. as a haven for the world’s al Qaedas and Talibans.

So I was clear: I wanted to go and find my own answers on the other side of my very own Punjab.

I reached Amritsar a day before, with fingers crossed but still clueless about whether I would even get the visa. Finally, everything fell into place and it ended with a lot of, “We cannot believe you are doing this...” lines.




I was going as a part of a 16-member peace delegation for a conference on South Asia People’s Union, and among the very few members who were visiting Pakistan for their first time. Everybody asked the youngest delegate in the team, "How do you think Pakistan will be?" And, that mounted my excitement even further.

—Photo by author.
The moment we crossed Wagah and got to the other side, a chill ran down my spine at the sight of the place where a suicide bombing had followed the daily parade, exactly a week before. And I caught myself chanting all the Sanskrit mantras I knew at mind-boggling speed.

A shower of rose petals by our Pakistani friends who had come to receive us at the border, was something I had definitely not expected. The South Asia Partnership (SAP) Pakistan’s team rolled out the red carpet and gave us a very warm welcome.

We directly headed for lunch at one of the members' place. And in my first few hours there, I was at a complete loss at making out any difference between them and myself. We looked similar, wore similar clothes, ate similar food and spoke the same language; that same Punjabi with the same accent, except for the ‘Haye Rabba’ I burst into and the ‘Haye Allah’ they burst into, while laughing.




Within a few hours, hundreds of Pakistanis invited me to their homes and cities for lunches, dinners and stay-overs. It seemed that the entire country was going out of its way to welcome me.

Believe me, Pakistani hospitality cannot be overstated.

—Photo by author.
That day’s session was at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s office. When I heard the Members of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, Supreme Court Advocates and the who’s who of Lahore, mentioning how grateful they were to have the Indian delegation with them, despite the recent attack at the Wagah border, I could not help but feel proud of myself.

While I was still exhilarated and overwhelmed with all these feelings, I heard my delegation lead mention me at the podium:

“For the first time, we have with us, a very very young delegate from India. Though she was amazingly excited to be here, something about her did tell me that she feared encountering long-haired bearded men who would blast her into pieces if they learned she was an Indian. My Pakistani friends, I applaud her decision to come with us and I leave this up to you now, to prove her fears wrong.”

As the huge audience put their hands together for me, I stood up meekly to show my terror-stricken face.


Minutes after that, I saw Jawad Ahmad from Coke StudioPakistan walking towards the stage to sing his newly written song, “Kaun yeh faisla karega ki kiska vatan kaunsa hai” and his very popular “Mitti da pehlwan.” I was awestruck listening to him live.

By the end, there wasn’t a single dignitary who had not invited me for a meal at his place. When one of the ministers mentioned that he would see me again in a couple of hours for the Ghazal Night at the SAP’s office, I knew for sure this was going to be one of my most memorable weeks of the entire year.

With every passing day, the week was getting more exciting — sessions at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and the Zakariya University, dinner meetings with eminent dignitaries, interviews with local newspapers, what not!

—Photo by author.
Two days in, and I was already regretting that I had only a week-long visa.

In my free time, I went around to see the stunning views this place had. From the Lahore Fort to Minar-e-Pakistan to the Badshahi mosque, I always had somebody local accompany me and explain the history of the place. When somebody you just met takes a day off at work to help you shop at the famous Anarkali and Liberty markets, you can be sure you are in Pakistan!

I thought about how an average Indian thinks about everything that is wrong with Pakistan. And just a week spent like that tells you how beautiful and kind, the place and the people are.

Towards the end of my stay, I asked somebody significantly senior if I could see a Pakistani wedding. And he very promptly said:

“Beta ji, hamaare mazhab mein chaar kar sakte hain. Aaj hi begum se jaa ke kehta hun keh bachhi ko nikah dekhna hai.”

Turns out Punjabis have the same sense of humor everywhere!


In a concluding dinner session at the office of Pakistan People’s Party, when a senior member of the Parliament stood up to offer his seat to my 24 year-old self, I knew for sure, this country respects women — a respect that is not barred by age, color, caste, religion and nationality.

My delegation lead, in his vote of thanks commended me again for deciding to be part of this delegation:

“This morning, I overheard her speaking on the phone to her parents saying that she did not want to go back without seeing Islamabad. Friends, we have changed the perception of one young Indian, exactly why I call this conference a success.”

I was sure, I would be coming back soon with Islamabad and Karachi on my itinerary. Every single person I met, extended help to arrange a multiple city visa for me. The longer, you stay the more you fall in love with the people and the place.



Things in Pakistan won’t change overnight. But a mere visit does shatter many misconceptions. For all those who call Pakistan a failed state, I have a suggestion: go to Lahore.

That’s the city I can confidently vouch for, though I am sure other places are no less.

Terror attacks intensifying in some parts of Pakistan cannot be ignored but does that mean that a small population is a representative of the 200 million Pakistanis doing amazing things within and outside the country? Certainly not!

It’s time we stop blaming the polity of both the nations. It’s time to switch off the news channels and get out of our houses for once, get to this transfixing destination which is so easy on the pocket and will kindle your love for the country.

Our soils are parted, let’s not part our souls.



Nikita Singla is a Delhi-based graduate from IIT and is currently working as International Affairs Consultant.

Toon rehn de... kaali dhoois are not welcome here. Bojo jai na hove taan.

 

[Butchcassidy]

lol, hospitals in India are cheaper, so are medicines. Even travel to nearest urban center is cheaper in India. Who are these Indians from rural village going to lahore for treatment?

Imaginary people, they exist

 

[Talwar e Pakistan]

May be he is referring to the rats which illegally cross the border, get shot and are lucky to escape alive.


Makes sense, past cannot be undone. But no way kashmir will be resolved. If islamists in pakistan harp on kashmir, radicals in india will hang on to akhand bharat. Trying to solve will only lead to more grief like partition has done.

Thing is, Pakistanis dont want to be apart of "AKand Bharat", but Kashmiris want to be either apart of Pakistan or be independant; its the will of people that matters.

 

[nair]

I think i have read this in PDF before........

 

[HariPrasad]

Cultural exchanges are always well come. This creates better understanding between the people and builds friendship.

 

[Neuro]

Every Indian??? few states(20-30%) in north India wants good relations with Pakistan and they having interest to visit over there. But majority of states (70-80%) doesn't want any kind of relationship with Pakistan .

Thing is, Pakistanis dont want to be apart of "AKand Bharat", but Kashmiris want to be either apart of Pakistan or be independant; its the will of people that matters.

Nope ....what India thinking is matters.

 

[911]

Toon rehn de... kaali dhoois are not welcome here. Bojo jai na hove taan.

Yes yes your people are better.


Now please stop this hatred. No one is asking to open border to unite. We must stop this hatred and be united in peace , or atleast try. We still did not recognise our real enemy who is always there to take the advantage of this situation.

 

[friendly_troll96]

Yes yes your people are better.


Now please stop this hatred. No one is asking to open border to unite. We must stop this hatred and be united in peace , or atleast try. We still did not recognise our real enemy who is always there to take the advantage of this situation.

You don't even understand what I said and are accusing me of hatred.

 

[911]

You don't even understand what I said and are accusing me of hatred.

I understand everything and about hatred i was saying it generally to people of both countries.

 

[friendly_troll96]

I understand everything and about hatred i was saying it generally to people of both countries.

then translate what i said into English.

 

[911]

then translate what i said into English.

Oh im really bad at english. One thing though, your words or my words wont change reallity a single bit, right? So whats the point in trying to prove something .