Jaipur: A cross-border wedding between Rajasthan’s Shaitan Singh and Kesar Kanwar from Pakistan’s Sindh province has been left in limbo after the Indian government ordered the immediate closure of the Attari-Wagah border on Wednesday, following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Singh, a resident of Indroi village in Barmer district, was set to marry Kanwar in Pakistan’s Amarkot city on 30 April. With his wedding attire prepared and the ‘baraat’ (wedding procession) ready, the groom and his family departed for the Attari border on Tuesday. However, their journey came to a halt when border authorities denied them entry.

The border closure comes in the wake of a tragic terror attack on 22 April, in which 26 people—mostly tourists—were gunned down in Pahalgam. In response, the Indian government, following a high-level Cabinet Committee on Security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced a series of retaliatory measures. These included downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan, revoking visa services for Pakistani nationals, suspending the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, and closing the land-transit post at Attari.

Singh, who works in the finance sector, expressed his deep disappointment. “We’ve waited a long time for this day. After years of trying, my father, brother and I were finally granted visas on 18 February. Everything was ready,” he said.

The bride’s family, along with other Pakistani relatives who had earlier travelled to India, were also affected, as they had to return home amidst the uncertainty.

Surendra Singh, the groom’s cousin, voiced the frustration felt by both families. “Everyone is heartbroken. Terror attacks don’t just take lives—they destroy lives. Families suffer. Borders shut down. Relations get strained.”

Despite the disruption, the family holds onto hope. Singh’s visa is valid until 12 May, offering a narrow window for the wedding to take place—provided the situation improves and the border is reopened.

The marriage had been arranged through traditional family ties, a common custom among the Sodha Rajput community, which has a significant presence in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Cross-border unions remain a cherished way of preserving cultural heritage within the community.

For now, both families remain in a state of anxious anticipation, hoping that peace will prevail in time for love to cross the border once more.