They are best friends for life from across India-Pakistan border

We spoke to a few such cross-border friends and this is what they had to say.

Friendship sees no borders, colours, age or religion. It is a beautiful bonding that transcends all barriers and sometimes, such relations last for a life time. Arch foes Pakistan and India have been fighting it out for years but that hasn't stopped people from both sides of the border from developing bonds that last a lifetime, be it marriage or friendship. We spoke to a few such cross-border friends and this is what they had to say.
'She is more like a sister to me than a friend'

Arj Noreen and Laiqa Mohammed bonded over food at their workplace.
"We met in September 2015, when we started work together," says Arj. There were less females at the workplace and hardly any Indians or Pakistanis due to which they became close.
"I didn't have a driving licence and Laiqa used to take me out everywhere. We started bonding on small things and now she is more like a sister to me than a friend," she adds.
Both friends celebrate together whenever they get the opportunity. "We celebrate Valentine's Day together and gift each other and likewise for all such occasions," says Arj, who is from Karachi.
Laiqa says it never crossed her mind that Arj is from Pakistan.
"We are not different at all. We both never feel we are from different countries that are enemies and that we should not be friends," she says. "We have similar tastes and qualities and this friendship will last for a lifetime," says Laiqa, who is from Mumbai.
"We are more like a family and she is more like a sister to me," says Laiqa, adding, "I hope we can be there to attend each other's wedding in future."
 

'We bonded after sharing classes for three years'

Muneeba Mohammed Ali and Hiba Khan met in Dubai in 2014 when Hiba moved from Saudi Arabia to complete her undergraduate studies in Dubai.
"We bonded after we shared classes together for three years," says Hiba, Indian, who has now moved back to Saudi.
Muneeba, from Pakistan, says that their friendship started while they were doing BBA. "We did not become friends in the first year but in the second, Hiba and I clicked," she says. "We started hanging out and eating together, which led to a strong bond.
"Hiba, in fact, was more Pakistani than Indian," says Muneeba, adding that nationality was never discussed between them. Both friends had also started a campaign on Facebook called #ProfileForPeace, in which both highlighted and praised each other's countries.
Some of their posts read: "I am an Indian, I love my country, she is one of my closest friends at university, I love Paki clothes and food, I love Fawad Khan, Love you my Zaara."
"I am a Pakistani, I love Indian customs and traditions, I love Siddharth Malhotra, I wish to visit India, Love you my Veer."

'We pick up from where we had left when we talk'

They both met in 2003 and become post-ragging friends.
Maha Jamil from Pakistan and Mohammed Rizwan from India used to travel in the same bus from Ras Al Khaimah to Ajman for studies. "This was in 2003.
He was my senior and he used to instigate other people to rag me but later we became really good friends," says Maha.
"We have the same wavelength and we think alike, that is why he is my best friend," she says.
Maha says in university, they used to eat together at the café and even bunk classes together.
"After he completed studies, even though Rizwan had no job, he used to come and meet me in the university," she says, adding that even though they do not meet often now, the bonding is still there.
Rizwan says after the ragging episodes they became close. "We got along really well. She is the intellectual type and when you speak to her, you know that you are not talking to a dumb person."
"So we used to have lots of conversations on life and books and arts," he adds.
"We met in 2017 after 10 years and we picked up from where we had left off," he adds.

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