Let us stay in Kashmir or send us in body bags: Pak wives of ex-militants

Pakistani wives of ex-militants rehabilitated here have asserted they would rather die than return to their old country.

The Pakistani women, who had come to Kashmir under the 2010 rehabilitation policy for former ultras, have pleaded the government to allow them to stay or send them in “body bags.”

Alyza Rafiq, married to an ex-militant, came to Kashmir in 2013 under the then-Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s policy that enabled the rehabilitation of ultras who had gone to Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for arms training, but abjured violence and wanted to return to the Valley.

Living at present in this north Kashmir district, Rafiq said the police have told her to leave the country.

“We have been asked to leave the country. I have three children. They have told me to leave my youngest daughter here. She is little, how can I leave her here!” Rafiq told PTI.

“How can I leave my husband here? I have built a house here. We came here because of the government’s policy… What have we done? What is our fault in this? We have election card, Aadhaar card. I have voted in elections,” she said.

With tears rolling down her cheeks, Rafiq appealed to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to let them live in Kashmir -– her home for the past 12 years.

“I appeal to the Governor sahib, please do not be cruel to us. We have not committed any sin. Please let us live here. If not, then kill us and send our bodies across the border,” she said.

Zahida Begum, another such Pakistani woman, said she wants to live in peace in Kashmir. “The police have asked me to leave. I do not want to go back. I have two daughters Maryam and Aamna. My son, Faizan, is 10 and they are telling me to keep him here. I do not want to go back. Please forgive me. I want to live here,” she said.