Assam mother and son freed after 18 months in Pakistan jail

Wahida Begum and her 11-year-old son, Faiz Khan, from Assam, India, are set to return home on May 29 after being detained in Pakistan for over a year.

Their handover at the Wagah border in Lahore marks the end of their 18-month ordeal. The pair had been held in Quetta Jail since November 2022 for lacking valid passports and visas.

The unclear circumstances of their arrival in Quetta near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border led to their detention, first communicated to Wahida’s family in Nagaon, Assam, via phone call and legal notice.

Advocate Santosh Kumar Suman and Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior expedited their release. Diplomatic negotiations between India and Pakistan, involving the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs, ultimately secured their return.

Three other Indian prisoners will also be handed over at the Wagah border, signifying a successful diplomatic effort.