Lahore:

“Loan problems for yourself if it’s your nature, but don’t lend it to your neighbors.” The English journalist, Rudyard Kipling’s classic saying, perfectly summarizes India’s recent provocative role in escalating bilateral tensions between the two rival nations by limiting humanitarian exchanges.

Over the past month, New Delhi has consistently ignored the diplomatic route to peace creation, while adopting a war-won attitude against Pakistan without regard to international law. After unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the launch of several missile attacks aimed at civilians across major cities, Narendra Modi administration has taken the conflict to a whole new level by stopping the movement of pilgrims and the treatment of patients.

Shahid Ali, a father from Larkana, had traveled to India for the treatment of his two children suffering from heart disease. “After the escalating tensions, both of my children were sent back without treatment. What have my children done? Why have they been punished? I have not enough money to pay for their treatment. After facing many obstacles, I was able to take my children to India, but now I feel helpless,” shouted Ali, who asked the government to help him in this difficulty.

Shahid’s children are among more than twenty -five patients who have been deported from India. Similarly, many other patients had taken appointments in India for treatment, but have been denied visas. Sources have revealed that a large number of patients visit India every year for treatment due to its affordable prices.

According to official figures, between 2019 and 2024, approx. 1,228 Pakistani citizens medical visas to travel to India. However, the number of visas issued has consistently decreased in the last few years. While 554 Visa was issued in 2019, only 97 medical visas were issued in 2020, 96 in 2021, 145 in 2022, 111 in 2023 and 225 in 2024.

According to Chaudhry Naseer Kamboh, an international affairs expert, India has violated international human rights by sending back patients who were in desperate need for treatment. “Treatment is the basic need of the sick person. If a patient has paid for treatment in another country, whether it is a friendly country or a hostile country, treatment is their basic right.

The International Humanitarian Law, Geneva Convention, The Hague Convention and the UN Charter specify that hospitals should not be attacked during war. In addition, human populations should not be made targets of war. Women, children and the elderly should be taken care of and religious places should also be respected. However, India has violated all these laws and completely ignored human rights in its aggression, “Kamboh said.

Similarly, Farah Zia, director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), thought it was unfortunate that India had deported patients to Pakistan. “We are investigating this and will give our answers soon. Patients should not have returned from India. This is a violation of human rights,” the Zia claimed.

Apart from restrictions on patients, the recent conflict between Pakistan and India has also ceased religious tourism. Both countries are closed, while the Kartarpur corridor has also been closed by India for an indefinite period.

Palwinder Singh, head of the Yatra Department of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in Amritsar, confirmed that the names of 326 pilgrims had been presented to visa treatment to attend the year of death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in June. However, their departure is subject to the approval of both Punjab (India) the state government and the central government.

Likewise, another religious event, Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev, was the fifth Sikh guru scheduled for June 16 at Gurdwara Dera Sahib in Lahore. However, reports indicate that Indian authorities have prevented SIKH pilgrims from attending this event.

On the other hand, it seems to be more and more unlikely that Pakistani Pilgrims will be able to travel to India in the coming days for urs by Hazrat Mujaddid Alf Sani, Hazrat Khwaja Alauddin Sabir Kaliyari, Hazrat Hafiz Abdullah, Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya and Hazrat Khwwwwwwwwwwa Moinuddin Chishti. Due to escalating tensions and the threatening threat of war, the boundaries remain closed and the issuance of visas between the two countries has been suspended.

“Despite the Recent Tensions, Pakistan Has Not Cancelled Visas for Indian Sikh Pilgrims, Nor Has It Stopped Them From Visiting. Meanwhile, India Has Imposeed A Ban On Sikh Pilgrims Entry Pakistan Effective May 7, 2025, And Has Also Closed The Kartarpur Corridor,” reefealed rameal Singh Arora, Provincial Minister of Minority Affairs and President of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has assured patients returning from India with incomplete treatment will be treated at no cost.