Relief for Pakistani Ahmadiya brides in Punjab

GURDASPUR: Pakistani Ahmadiyya brides living in their matrimonial homes in Punjab's Qadian town have breathed a sigh of relief after Union home ministry clarified that visa cancellations in the Pahalgam aftermath would not apply to long-term visas (LTVs). "No new visa will be issued, except for diplomatic, official, and LTV categories, which remain valid," says the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) memorandum issued on Friday. The clarification came after a wave of anxiety swept through Qadian, international headquarters of Ahmadiyyas in Gurdaspur district, where more than a dozen Pakistani-origin brides reside."These women were in complete shock," said Chaudhary Maqbool Ahmad, a social activist and Qadian resident who is also married to a Pakistani woman. "For days, they feared they would be expelled, even though their families, lives, and futures are here."