Amritsar: Uncertainty continues over the return of Indian woman Sarabjit Kaur, also known as Noor Hussain, who had travelled to Pakistan with a Sikh jatha and later converted to Islam and married there. Despite reports in Pakistani media and on social media claiming that she was being sent back to India via the Wagah border, she has not reached the Indian side even after two days.
Sarabjit Kaur had gone to Pakistan in November 2025 with a group of Sikh pilgrims to mark the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. After reaching Pakistan, she converted to Islam, married a Lahore-based man, Nasir Hussain, and adopted the name Noor Hussain.
After her visa expired, Pakistani authorities initiated deportation proceedings against her in an alleged overstay case. Sources said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had taken her into custody to hand her over to the BSF at the Wagah border. However, it is reported that Sarabjit Kaur refused to return to India, claiming that her life could be in danger there.
According to a report by Pakistani daily Dawn, authorities failed to deport Sarabjit Kaur on Monday as the Wagah-Atari border was closed. Her visa was valid till November 13. She was among the 1,992 Sikh pilgrims who had visited Pakistan for religious events and returned to India on November 13, but she stayed back, prompting legal action against her.
The report said Sarabjit Kaur embraced Islam on November 5, married Pakistani national Nasir Hussain and changed her name to Noor Hussain. Dawn quoted Pakistan Punjab’s minority affairs minister Ramesh Singh Arora as saying that the 48-year-old woman had been sent back to India after completing legal formalities. However, Punjab Rangers officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the deportation process could not be completed due to the closure of the border.
Meanwhile, Hindustan Times reported that Pakistani law enforcement agencies have temporarily put Sarabjit Kaur’s deportation on hold, citing several petitions pending before the Lahore High Court. As per reports from Pakistan, she is currently in Lahore police custody and has been kept at a safe house until further orders. Pictures purportedly from the safe house surfaced on social media on Tuesday. She was arrested on January 4 after her visa expired.
The couple had approached the High Court seeking relief from alleged police harassment. Sarabjit Kaur has also claimed to have contacted the Indian High Commission regarding Pakistani citizenship. At the same time, former MLA Mahinder Pal Singh has filed a petition seeking her immediate deportation to India for violating visa rules. Due to these pending legal proceedings, her return has been stalled until a court decision.
As of now, there is no clear official confirmation about Sarabjit Kaur’s exact status or whereabouts in Pakistan.
