Barmer: Despite the sour relationship between India and Pakistan, the people of Barmer and Jaisalmer, which located about 90 km away from the international border in Rajasthan, maintain the 'roti-beti' relations with the neighbouring country.
Far from the diplomatic channels of both the nations, the people living on either side of the border often marry internationally; Indians bring brides from Pakistan and vice versa.
In January 2019, three men of Barmer got married in Sindh, Pakistan. However, a month later, tensions between the countries increased after the Pulwama attack. Since then, the Pakistani brides have not been able to secure Indian visas to travel to Rajasthan.
Although the grooms waited in Pakistan in hope of bringing the brides back with them, India's immigration department did not grant access to the brides.
For these two years, the families have been running pillar to posts to get visas approved.
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Now the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has started efforts to bring the brides to India, igniting hope that soon they will come to their in-laws' house in India.
Vikram Singh and his brother Nepal Singh, a resident of village Baia of Darsial, Jaisalmer went to Pakistan by Thar Express in January 2019. Vikram Singh was married on 22 January and Nepal on 26 January. Similarly, Mahendra Singh of Barmer was married on 16 April.
Amid waiting for the visas, Nepal Singh's wife has also become the mother of a son. Their son, Rajveer Singh is one year old.
