Indian women visit Pakistan, thankful for husbands' release

Two Indian women have arrived in Pakistan to thank people for their help in the release of their husbands from the captivity of Somali pirates.

Rights activist Ansar Burney received the women - Sampa Arya and Madhu Sharma as they entered Pakistan through the Wagah land border yesterday.

They are the wives of Ravinder Singh and N K Sharma, members of the crew of MV Suez that was hijacked by pirates.

The two women expressed their happiness at visiting Pakistan.

"We owe a lot to Pakistanis for helping in the release of our husbands. It is due to the help of Pakistanis that our husbands are alive and with us today," Madhu said.

Sampa said she had wanted to visit Pakistan for some time.

"People were surprised when I told them I was more interested in visiting Pakistan, especially Lahore, than Britain or the US," she said.

She said she wanted cordial relations between India and Pakistan.

"Efforts to bring both countries closer should continue," she said.

The Indian women are on a four-day visit.

They will meet Sindh Governor Ishrat-Ul-Ibad Khan and thank him for his role in the release of the crew of MV Suez.

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