Ties between India and Pakistan have always had their highs and lows during the past six decades. This is despite uncountable cultural similarities and a close historic bonding between the two South Asian countries.
Cross-border romance, depicted in reel life, often draws its inspiration from real life. However, cross-border marriages between individuals from India and Pakistan have their own woes, the biggest being an identity crisis. While some prefer to keep their citizenship, others may consider changing it under the new circumstances. Issues of loyalty and patriotism become acute especially in times like these when relations between India and Pakistan are at an all-time low.
Meanwhile, seeking refuge in any third country has always been the best option for such couples. Arab News talked to few of them in the Kingdom to know how they cope up with such circumstances.
Nadia Aqeel, an Indian married to a Pakistani said “living in the Kingdom has been a boon for us as neither of us has to give up our nationality.”
"I have been to Pakistan twice. The people there are very nice. But political disputes do have their repercussions. It's difficult to give up one’s nationality, that's like a personal identity," she said.
"I do not recommend anyone to go in for such relations. It is the children who are mostly caught in between and they suffer the most," Aqeel added.
Saima Farhan from Pakistan, married to an Indian, said that she would never give up her nationality.
"Although I have never faced any problems during my trips to India, I am more worried for my children's higher education as there are fewer options here in the Kingdom as compared to that in India, and we do not want to settle in India," she said.
There are many visa and movement restrictions on persons who have contracted cross-border marriages.
An Indian woman has to spend an aggregate period of five years in Pakistan to obtain its nationality. Documents to be submitted at the Directorate General of Immigration and Passport Headquarter in Islamabad, Pakistan are a marriage certificate, the husband's domicile certificate, and identity card of the couple along with other documents.
For obtaining an Indian citizenship, an applicant is required to submit an application in the prescribed format accompanied by an undertaking in writing that he/she will renounce citizenship of his/her country in the event application for an Indian Citizenship is approved by the Home Ministry.
A copy of applicant's passport, copy of marriage certificate, an oath of allegiance as specified in the Indian Constitution and application that the applicant has been ordinarily resident in India are also required to be submitted along with the application. He/she should spend five consecutive years in India. During this time, he/she must report his/her stay in India to the Police Commissioner's office.
"An applicant may not necessarily obtain an Indian nationality even after fulfilling all the requirements and the decision rests with the approving authorities in the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India," said sources at the Consulate General of India, Jeddah.
However, in view of the ongoing political scenario in the subcontinent, some say that this may not be the best time for applying for a change in citizenship. "This is not a suitable time for changing your citizenship. The Indian government has become cautious in granting citizenships after the recent terror attacks in Mumbai," said advocate Basha Nawaz Khan.
Meanwhile, many like Huma Ahmed, a Pakistani married to an Indian, believe that marriages are impervious to political tensions between the two countries.
"Terrorism has no religion and nationality. But sadly, it is always a country which gets blemished for an individual's act. Such incidents may have political consequences but they cannot affect marriages. The best way to avoid any marital tensions, if any, is to ignore such things and avoid getting intensely involved in them," she said.
Her husband, Ahmed Riaz, said: "Politicians exaggerate situations to get political mileage. In reality, strained situations like these between the two nations help us to strengthen our relationship, as any sensible person can see the truth behind such conspiracies and in fact, help us to sympathize with the people of the other country."
It is believed that a routine blame game ensues after any mishap occurs in either India or Pakistan. Faiza Tanveer, another Pakistani married to an Indian, said that the blame game is a product of the "dirty media propaganda propped up by governments of both sides. We know this and the sensible population in either country do not believe a word of it."
Her husband, Irshad Rizvi, said that acts of terrorism should not ruin relations or bring about any drastic changes in cross-border marriages. "We equally enjoy our trips to both India and Pakistan," he said.