Pakistani woman travels to India to 'unite with husband' she met online

In another cross-border union, a 25-year-old woman from Islamabad reportedly married an Indian man from Rajasthan after meeting him on Facebook and crossed the border to unite with her partner.

Mehwish, a beauty parlour owner from the federal capital, married Rehman, a transporter in Kuwait, in a virtual nikah ceremony before meeting him in person.

Mehwish revealed that she proposed to Rehman on March 13, 2022 after discussing it with her sister and brother-in-law. Following their nikah online, they formalised their union in person when they both visited Makkah.

The couple announced their marriage on social media, which is also how their families first learned of the news.

Indian media reported that Mehwish and her family entered India through the Wagah border on July 25, on a 45-day tourist visa. They were welcomed by Rahman's family and brought to their village in Pithisar.

Upon Mehwish's arrival in Rajasthan, intelligence agencies and local police initiated an investigation.

Prior to her relationship with Rehman, Mehwish was married to a Lahore resident in 2006. They have two sons, now aged 12 and 10.

The couple separated in 2018 and Mehwish proposed to Rehman on March 13, 2022.

Meanwhile, Rehman was previously married to a woman named Farida in 2011, and they have two children together.

Rahman's first wife has filed a complaint at a local police station, alleging that his marriage to a Pakistani woman is suspicious and accused her of being a spy.

Farida alleges her husband's second marriage is illegal as Rehman has not yet finalised a divorce with her. She has vowed to challenge the union in court.