A Pakistani Entrepreneur's Unexpected Mumbai Layover
Okay, so you won't believe this. A Pakistani entrepreneur, Waqas Hassan, recently went viral on Instagram – and not for the reasons you might think. He shared his story about transiting through Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport…without an Indian visa. Seriously. He flew from Singapore to Saudi Arabia, with a six-hour layover in Mumbai on an IndiGo flight, and it completely blew up online.
It all highlights this crazy little travel loophole for Pakistanis that most people didn’t even know existed.
Navigating the India Transit System
Getting a regular Indian visa for Pakistanis is a nightmare – mountains of paperwork, endless waiting. But apparently, you can transit through Indian airports visa-free, as long as you stay airside. That means you never actually enter India. Waqas's video, "I travelled to India on a Pakistani passport," brought this to everyone's attention. He stressed how crucial it is to book a single-ticket itinerary – don’t try to do this with separate bookings. Trust me on this one.
Six Hours in Mumbai Airport: A Surprise Adventure
During his six-hour layover, Waqas wasn't just sitting around staring at the departure boards. He hit up the airport lounge, grabbed some souvenirs, and even managed to snag some vada pav – that iconic Mumbai street food. He said the whole thing was "pretty fun," although, even the immigration officers seemed a little surprised to see a Pakistani passport in their transit area. Apparently, this sort of thing is incredibly rare.
The Internet Goes Wild
His Instagram video? Over 800,000 views! The comments were crazy. People were shocked, hoping this meant easier travel between India and Pakistan in the future. It sparked conversations all over social media, reminding us of how complicated – and sometimes surprising – geopolitics can be.
A Tiny Crack in the Wall?
So, what’s the big deal? Waqas's story shows that even though travel between India and Pakistan is incredibly difficult, there are still some legal ways around the restrictions. His experience shone a light on a little-known route for Pakistani citizens traveling between East and West Asia. It's a small thing, but it's a reminder that even in the most tense situations, there might be unexpected solutions.
