Ailing Pakistan girl wins over Indian hearts

An ailing Pakistani girl, who travelled to India on a newly resumed bus service between the nuclear-armed rivals, had successful surgery today after winning over thousands of Indian hearts.

Fifteen doctors in the southern city of Bangalore operated on 2 1/2 -year-old Noor Fatima, who had holes in her heart. She arrived with her parents last week on board the first of the reinstated bus services, running between New Delhi and Lahore.

The six hour operation “went on fine,” said hospital chairman Dr Devi Shetty. “The baby is stable. In any heart operation, the first 48 hours are critical.”

Several Bangalore schools offered special prayers as doctors wheeled Fatima into the operating room. Many people stood outside, offering their best wishes on national television.

The bus service resumed July 11 after it was disrupted 18 months ago by the threat of war between India and Pakistan. The neighbour countries severed ground and air links, withdrew their ambassadors and deployed nearly one million troops on their border last year.

Newspapers and television stations have run daily stories on Fatima since she arrived. Images of her waving cheerfully have been beamed repeatedly on TV channels.

Her name means the light in Urdu, and some media have called her The Light from Pakistan.

“Our daughter has won over India’s heart,” said her mother, Nadeem.