Indo-Pak Love Finds a Way Through Red Tape

Love triumphed over diplomatic rivalry yesterday as Pakistan granted citizenship to an Indian woman so she could live with her Pakistani husband.

The announcement to grant citizenship to Hafsa Khan came as President Pervaiz Musharraf met Manmohan Singh, the Indian prime minister, in New York.

“Despite legal limitations, this was done in the best interests of the couple and in a spirit of goodwill,” said Masood Khan, a Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman.

Hafsa married Aman Khan last year, but Pakistani authorities refused to give her citizenship and ordered her to leave the country on the expiry of her visa in March.

Aman challenged the interior ministry order in the court and secured a stay. Yesterday the ministry issued a new order granting citizenship to Hafsa.

Hafsa, who gave birth to a baby boy last month and who lives with her Pathan husband in north-western Pakistan, said she was happy after months of anxiety…