An Indian woman who said she was forced to marry a Pakistani at gunpoint returned to India on Thursday (25) after a court ordered her release.
Uzma Ahmad was reunited with her family at the Wagah border crossing near Amritsar in northern Punjab state before heading to New Delhi where she called on foreign minister Sushma Swaraj.
The case became a national rallying cry against arch-rival Pakistan with Swaraj calling Ahmad "India's daughter" and leaving no stone unturned for her release.
"I want to thank the foreign ministry and the home ministry of Pakistan. If Uzma is with us today, they have a role too," Swaraj told reporters in Delhi in a rare display of amity between the foes.
Ahmad, who is in her early 20s, met Pakistani Tahir Ali in Malaysia, according to Indian media.
She told the Islamabad high court that Ali forced her to marry him at gunpoint on May 3 when she was visiting Pakistan.
Ahmad has made headlines in India since making her plea to the court on May 12 to be allowed to return.
Her allegations emerged as tensions mounted between India and Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir region and the case of an Indian national, Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death in Pakistan on spying charges.
Ahmad had been staying at the Indian mission in Islamabad since making the accusation.
The Islamabad court ordered Ali to return the woman's immigration documents so she could leave.
Ahmad fought back tears as she recalled Swaraj ringing to assure her everything was being done to bring her home.
"For the first time I felt as if my life too has a value," Ahmad said after touching Swaraj's feet, a traditional gesture of respect in India.
"I have been really lucky as there are many girls over there who are are abused and harassed but they are not able to get out."
In 2015, a deaf and mute Indian girl returned to India after more than 10 years trapped in Pakistan.
Relations between India and Pakistan have plummeted since a deadly attack on an Indian army base in the disputed region of Kashmir in September, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-based Islamist group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
There have since been repeated outbreaks of cross-border firing, with both sides reporting deaths and injuries.
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)