An invincible line has separated 67-year-old Barak Bibi from her husband for the last four decades.
Bibi, who lives with her schoolteacher son Issac in Salotri border hamlet on the Line of Control, is hopeful that the initiation of the Indo-Pak peace process will end the long separation.
She is overcome with emotions as she remembers her husband Naiz Ahmed Khan and daughter Ulfat separated only by a stream and 300 metre field full of water buffaloes since 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Bibi shows a black and white photograph of husband-daughter to journalists.
The higher authorities are planning to open the Poonch-Rawalakote road, which connects Salotri village to the Teetrinot hamlet in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, where Khan lives.
With the proposal for the new bus link, Bibi is hopeful of reuniting with her husband and daughter.
"My wait will come to an end soon. I will meet him (Khan) after so many years," an emotional Bibi said.
The decision to open the Poonch-Rawalakote road was taken by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf during their talks in New Delhi on April 18.
After opening the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, the officials also decided to start Uri-Muzaffarabad bus service.
Unfortunately, Bibi is not alone. She is among the 2,972 families who are divided along the LoC.
"I will catch the first Indo-Pak bus along with my son," she said. Bibi was only 27 years old when she was forced to separate from her husband.
Also read:
Only 18 likely on second Kashmir bus
© 2024 Rediff.com -