Pahalgam Attack: Two Sisters to Visit Pakistan After 43 Years, Say ‘We Have No One There, How Will We Survive?’

Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir | June 2, 2025 — In the aftermath of the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam last week that claimed the lives of nine people and left dozens injured, a heartbreaking human story has emerged—two elderly sisters, long separated from their ancestral roots, are now being compelled to visit Pakistan after 43 years due to unforeseen circumstances arising from the attack.

A Sudden Turn of Fate

The two sisters, Fatima Begum (68) and Zulekha Bano (65), originally hail from Rawalpindi, Pakistan, but had settled in India with their family during the early 1980s. They had not returned to Pakistan since, building their lives in Srinagar. However, their nephew, who was among the victims of the Pahalgam attack, held dual citizenship and had chosen to be buried in the family graveyard across the border. As his only surviving next-of-kin, the sisters are now traveling to Pakistan for the burial rites and to fulfill his last wishes.

“We never imagined we would return like this,” said Zulekha, her voice quivering with emotion. “There is no one left in Pakistan that we know. Our parents died long ago, and all the relatives we knew have either passed on or migrated.”

Fear and Uncertainty Cloud the Journey

The sisters, visibly anxious, shared their fears about the upcoming journey. “How will we survive there?” Fatima asked. “We don’t know where to go, what to do. It’s not the Pakistan we remember. Everything has changed.”

They added that although Indian authorities are facilitating the necessary documentation and arrangements through the Ministry of External Affairs, the trip remains a daunting one. The Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi has reportedly granted emergency entry visas on humanitarian grounds.

Local administration officials in Anantnag district confirmed they are providing assistance for their safe travel. “This is a deeply emotional and sensitive issue,” said Deputy Commissioner Zahid Lone. “We are coordinating with both the Indian and Pakistani governments to ensure their safe passage and return.”

Pahalgam Still in Mourning

Meanwhile, Pahalgam continues to reel from the shock of the recent attack, which authorities have attributed to foreign-trained militants. The targeted bus, carrying Hindu pilgrims and tourists, was ambushed near the Lidder River, triggering a chaotic scene that left several wounded and plunged the region back into fear and mourning.

Security has been heightened across the area, and a joint investigation involving the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and local police is underway. No group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack.

Hope Amid Grief

Despite the tragedy, the story of the two sisters has stirred emotions across social media, with many expressing solidarity and offering prayers. “They are victims in their own right,” said social activist Rehana Mushtaq. “Their journey symbolizes the pain of divided families and the human cost of political conflict.”

Fatima and Zulekha hope to return within a week, with closure and peace for their nephew’s final rites. “We just want to say goodbye and come back home,” said Fatima quietly, “to the only place we now call home—Kashmir.”