A cross-border wedding for Shaitan Singh, a groom from Rajasthan’s Barmer district, has been halted due to the closure of the Attari-Wagah border. Singh was set to marry Kesar Kanwar from Pakistan’s Sindh province on April 30, but escalating tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 have led to an abrupt interruption in the wedding plans.
Singh, along with his family and wedding procession (baraat), had traveled from Barmer to the Attari border, eagerly awaiting the moment when they would cross into Pakistan for the ceremony in Amarkot city. However, their journey was cut short when authorities refused to let them cross the border after India’s government ordered its immediate shutdown as part of retaliatory actions in response to the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
“We’ve waited a long time for this day,” Singh said, expressing his frustration. After years of struggles to secure visas for himself, his father, and his brother, they finally received approval in February. Singh’s cousin, Surendra Singh, also shared the family’s disappointment: “Our relatives from Pakistan had come here, but they had to return. We are very disappointed. Terror attacks cause a lot of damage. Relations get spoiled. Movement on the border stops,” he said.
Despite the setback, there remains a sliver of hope. Singh’s visa, which is valid until May 12, may allow the wedding to proceed if the border reopens in time. “Whatever the terrorists did was wrong. The wedding has been interrupted. What to do? It is a matter of borders,” Singh said, as he and his family hold onto the hope of reuniting across the border.
The wedding between Singh and Kanwar was arranged through family ties, a common practice among the Sodha Rajput community, which has a significant presence in both Rajasthan and Sindh. Cross-border marriages have long been a tradition for many in the community, helping preserve cultural ties and customs across the India-Pakistan border. Singh, who works in the finance sector, is one of many who maintain strong family connections in Pakistan.
The diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan have only intensified in recent days. On Wednesday, India downgraded its diplomatic relations with Pakistan, following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead, including 25 tourists. The Indian government’s retaliatory measures included suspending the Indus Water Treaty, revoking visa services for Pakistani nationals, and shutting down the Attari land-transit post.
For now, Singh’s family waits, hoping that the situation improves and the border will reopen in time for the long-awaited wedding. Until then, the couple’s dreams of a cross-border union remain on hold, caught in the web of political and security tensions between the two neighboring countries.