Pakistani wives of former militants, rehabilitated in Kashmir under the 2010 rehabilitation policy for former ultras, have strongly rejected the idea of returning to Pakistan, expressing their willingness to die rather than go back to their old country.
These women, who moved to Kashmir as part of a government initiative to reintegrate former militants who had undergone arms training in Pakistan, have now pleaded with the authorities to allow them to stay in the region or send them in “body bags”.
Alyza Rafiq, married to a former militant, arrived in Kashmir in 2013 under the policy introduced by then-Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that allowed the rehabilitation of ultras who had gone to Pakistan or Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir for arms training, but abjured violence and wanted to return to Jammu and Kashmir.
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 said. "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, Aadhar card. I have voted in elections," she said.
With tears rolling down her cheeks, Rafiqa 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 wanted 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.
Begum showed up her domicile certificate, Aadhar, election card, and ration card, which she said were issued by the government.
"It will ruin the lives of my children. I have been living here for 15 years, I have lived a good life and I want to live in peace. Even my children do not want to go back," she said.
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