After Two Decades, Indian Woman Reunited with Family from Pakistan**

Hamida Banu, an Indian woman trafficked to Pakistan under the guise of a job in Dubai, reunites with her family after 22 years, aided by a viral video and newfound connections.**

Hamida Banu, an Indian woman who endured two decades of separation from her family due to trafficking, has finally reunited with her loved ones after being discovered in a video by her grandson. The 75-year-old Banu described her time in Pakistan as "being a living corpse," stating that she felt trapped and unable to communicate with her family during her lengthy ordeal.

In 2002, Banu was lured into what she thought was a legitimate job offer in Dubai by a recruitment agent, who instead took her to Pakistan. The situation escalated when she was detained for three months in a house before eventually marrying a street vendor in Karachi, who passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite her hardships, Banu claimed her late husband never mistreated her.

Banu’s plight surfaced publicly in mid-2022 after a YouTube video interview conducted by Pakistani activist Waliullah Maroof caught the attention of Indian journalist Khalfan Shaikh. The video reached her family when her grandson spotted it, leading to an emotional plea and a connection between Banu and her relatives, who had been unaware of her whereabouts for years.

Following substantial verification processes by both Indian and Pakistani authorities regarding her identity, Banu was cleared to return home. Upon crossing the land border back into India, she expressed immense relief and joy in being reunited with her children and siblings, despite her initial reluctance to feel like a burden. Her return marks the conclusion of a long and painful journey, as she now looks forward to reconnecting with her family after two decades of separation.