200 stranded Pakistanis, Indians return home

Pakistan and India agreed to open their borders to facilitate the return of around 200 nationals stuck on either side since March 2020, after the closure of borders due to the pandemic. Around 82 Pakistani nationals returned home on Thursday while over 100 Indians stranded in Pakistan were also to return to their homeland.

Pakistan and Indian officials agreed to facilitate the repatriation of their nationals as a gesture of humanitarian assistance and upon repeated appeals made to both Islamabad and New Delhi by the worried relatives on both sides.

Tests, quarantine

Returnees would be tested for Covid-19 and have to stay in quarantine before going home. Sidelining their mounting bilateral tensions the Pakistan and Indian interior ministry officials decided to open the Wagah-Attari border so that about 200 nationals from both the states can re-join their family after three months.

The gesture was haile by a Western foreign diplomat who asked not be named but expressed hope that such humanitarian efforts may help reduce continuous tensions and border clashes.