WATCH: Divided by partition, childhood friends reunite in US

A heartwarming reunion of two childhood friends from India and Pakistan went viral on social media after they met for the first time in 41 years, following the partition in 1947.

Before the partition tore them apart, Shakir and Kothari hailed from Dees in Gujarat, India. When Shakir was just 12 years old, he was relocated to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Kothari was studying in Bombay and he was devastated upon learning about his friend's departure.

Shakir had informed his friend through a letter that he had reached Rawalpindi. However, communication ceased after that due to the rising tensions between the two countries, making visits impossible.

Years later in 1982, Shakir moved to Connecticut in the US and learned through a mutual friend that his longtime companion was coming to New York. That year, they reunited for the first time, as Shakir personally went to receive Kothari from JFK airport.

Separated once again, they met in October, 2023 after 41 years and Kothari’s granddaughter shared a video of their emotional union on Instagram. Their story resonated deeply with those who bore the scars of separation during the partition.