The growing tension between India and Pakistan has put the lives of thousands of people in trouble. Both countries have asked their citizens to return as soon as possible, as the Attari-Wagah border will be completely closed by April 29.
In the last four days, 836 Indian citizens have returned from Pakistan and 535 Pakistani citizens have also returned from India to Pakistan via Wagah.
On the Indian side, at the Attari border, many people are waiting for their relatives at the Integrated Check Post (ICP).
These are the people whose relatives went to Pakistan on "Nori Visa". Nori visa is given to those Pakistanis whose families are in India. Now about 200 Nori visa holders are stranded at Wagah and are waiting to return to India.
An elderly woman cries, “They had just gone to meet relatives, they did not know that politics would trap them like this.” The Integrated Check Post, once bustling with activity, is now deserted.
The Attari-Wagah route, one of South Asia’s busiest trade corridors, began to slow down after the 2019 Pulwama attack, when India imposed a 200 per cent duty on Pakistani goods.
Later in August 2019, Pakistan banned all trade with India, leaving the route open only for Afghan goods, which has now been completely closed.
This halt in movement has affected not only political relations but also the livelihood of ordinary people.
Porters carrying goods at the border, who used to make a living from daily wages, are now migrating to other places in search of new employment.
The dhaba owners lining the Attari Road have also been deeply affected. The dhabas that once served food to 5,000 to 7,000 passengers a day are now deserted.
A dhaba owner said, "Now we are jobless. We request the government to restart the daily parade, even if it is a small one, so that this place can come alive again."
The closure of the border has once again proved that governments draw lines on the map, but the real price has to be paid by the common people.