'There is no greater religion than livelihood': Pakistan woman married to Kolkata bizman slams Pahalgam terror attack on tourists
Times of India | 26 April 2025
Jaweria Khanum, a Pakistani woman married into a Kolkata family, expressed shock at the Pahalgam terror attack and commended Kashmiris for condemning it, emphasizing the importance of livelihood. KOLKATA: Jaweria Khanum of Karachi, who married into a family from Kolkata last year, is shocked by the attack on tourists in Kashmir. However, she is not surprised that the people of Kashmir have come out in the open to condemn the dastardly attack on tourists.
"There is no greater religion than livelihood. Here, the livelihood of Kashmiris is targeted by attacking tourists. This has banded the Kashmiris against the senseless incident," said Jaweria, who crossed the Attari-Wagah border on Dec 5, 2025, to marry Sameer Khan of Kolkata. The Wagah border was shut down following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, including three from Bengal.
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Sameer's father, Ahmad Kamal Khan, who was present with band-baaja at the border to welcome Jaweria, said India had no option but to respond to the attack in an appropriate manner. This response should curb terrorism but not affect Kashmiris who have stood up in support against terrorism.
"The only thing I can equate the Pahalgam attack on tourists to is the massacre at a Peshawar school a decade ago that left 150 children dead. These killings are senseless. The Indian govt must ensure that Kashmir bounces back and normality is restored. That can happen if confidence is restored and tourists return. It won't happen immediately, but I hope it happens soon enough," said Khan, a leather goods exporter. Sameer is currently in Germany on business.
In the 15 months since her marriage, Jaweria has been to Delhi, to her in-laws' ancestral family house in Meerut, to Goa and Darjeeling. Prior to each of these visits, she was required to seek the nod from the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO). While these guidelines are applicable to all foreigners, since Pakistan is an enemy country, its citizens are subject to further scrutiny. However, the family's experience till now has been extremely pleasant.
"The officers at the FRRO have been cooperative and courteous. Since she is permitted to stay with her husband in Kolkata and seek permission to travel anywhere else, we have done so. Whenever she visits a city, she has to report to the office concerned, which she has done. When she visited Darjeeling last month, officials welcomed her and said she was the first Pakistani to visit the hill station," recounted Jaweria's mother-in-law, Nusrat Kamal Khan.
Jaweria, meanwhile, has fallen in love with Kolkata and saris. At home, she delights everyone with Afghani biryani and Chapli kebab. She has also got enrolled in a bakery class.
She keeps in touch with her parents and siblings through video calls. They were unable to attend her wedding on Jan 5, 2023. But thanks to technology, the band, baaja, baraat happened on both sides of the border. All events — from mehendi and haldi to baraat, nikah and dawat — were live-streamed to allow the bride's family in Pakistan to join the celebrations virtually.
Given the current situation, she does not know when she will be able to meet her parents in person. Having seen Kolkata and experienced a different life, she hopes one day relations between the two countries will improve and that her family will be able to some day enjoy the city of joy.