In a sharp escalation of the Baby Ariha Shah disappearance case, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPIM has directly appealed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for immediate intervention. The two-year-old girl from Jammu and Kashmir vanished under mysterious circumstances during a family trip to Karachi, Pakistan, sparking outrage across India.
Ariha Shah, daughter of Indian nationals Deepak Verma and Fatima Khan, disappeared on October 14 from a residential area in Karachi’s Soldier Bazaar. Despite frantic searches by her family and local police, no trace of the toddler has been found. Pakistani authorities have launched an investigation, but Indian officials remain skeptical about the progress and transparency.
CPIM leaders, including national secretary Brinda Karat, have condemned Pakistan’s handling of the matter. ‘This is a humanitarian crisis involving an innocent Indian child. The External Affairs Minister must press for swift action and ensure Ariha’s safe return,’ Karat stated in a formal letter to Jaishankar. The party has also demanded a high-level diplomatic channel to monitor developments.
The case has ignited political firestorms in India. Opposition parties accuse the government of inadequate response, while BJP leaders highlight it as evidence of Pakistan’s unreliability. Social media is flooded with #BringBackAriha campaigns, amplifying calls for justice.
As days turn into weeks without leads, the Shah family’s agony intensifies. Deepak Verma, speaking from Karachi, pleaded, ‘My daughter is just two years old. Every moment without her is torture.’ Indian diplomatic missions in Pakistan are coordinating with local police, but CPIM insists on escalated central government involvement.
This incident underscores the vulnerabilities faced by Indian families traveling to Pakistan, even on personal visits. With bilateral tensions already high, Ariha’s case could further strain India-Pakistan relations. The government now faces mounting pressure to prioritize her recovery through every available diplomatic avenue.
CPIM’s intervention adds a new layer to the unfolding drama, signaling cross-party consensus on protecting Indian citizens abroad. As the search continues, all eyes remain on Islamabad’s response and New Delhi’s countermeasures.
