Rajasthan man’s cross-border wedding delayed after Attari border closure

Barmer: After a four-year-long struggle, Shaitan Singh from Rajasthan now faces another wait to get married, as the closure of the Attari-Wagah border has disrupted his plans.

Singh was engaged to Kesar Kanwar from Sindh province in Pakistan four years ago, and after years of efforts to secure a visa, he was set to marry her in Amarkot, Pakistan, on April 30.

Singh, along with his family and wedding party, left for the Attari border from Barmer district on Tuesday.

However, upon arrival, they were stopped by authorities after India ordered the immediate closure of the border in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists.

“We had waited a lot for this day. After years of efforts, the visa was recently granted on February 18,” said Shaitan Singh.

His cousin, Surendra Singh, said both families were deeply disappointed. “Our relatives from Pakistan had come here but had to return. Terror attacks cause a lot of damage. Relationships deteriorate. Traffic stops at the border,” he said.

Shaitan Singh, who works in the finance sector, is from Indroi village in Barmer district and still holds a visa valid until May 12, offering a glimmer of hope that the marriage could proceed if the border reopens in time.

His marriage is part of a longstanding tradition among the Sodha Rajput community, which has a significant presence in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Cross-border marriages are common in the community to maintain cultural ties.

India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack. Measures taken included suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelling visa services for Pakistani nationals, and closing the Attari land-transit post.

Meanwhile, both families are anxiously awaiting an improvement in the situation.