Ayan, a 16-year-old from Karachi who was paralyzed after being shot in the spine, has returned to Pakistan after spending a month in India for medical treatment. His mother, however, remains in India due to her Indian passport status.
Ayan had traveled to India in hopes of recovery, with his family pinning their hopes on specialized spinal treatment unavailable in Pakistan. Indian doctors performed several tests and began a course of care aimed at improving his condition. Despite their efforts, a long-term solution could not be provided, and Ayan was sent back to Pakistan. His mother was unable to accompany him due to passport and visa complications.
Ayan’s father explained that the family had saved for months to afford the treatment abroad. “We were hopeful that the Indian hospitals could offer him a real chance,” he said. Ayan, heartbroken over the outcome, said he was devastated to return without his mother and without the improvement they had hoped for.
The family now faces an uncertain future as they search for further treatment options, with Ayan’s condition still critical.
Complicating matters further, India has recently ordered all Pakistani citizens in the country to leave within 48 hours following the Pahalgam attack. The Indian government has also shut down the Attari border crossing and suspended all visa services for Pakistani nationals, including those under the SAARC framework.
These developments have left families like Ayan’s caught in the crossfire of escalating diplomatic tensions.
