A Pakistani traveller’s account of spending several hours at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport during a layover has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention. Through a video, she offered a candid glimpse into her transit experience in India while en route to another destination. She documented each stage of her journey, reflecting on her expectations before the trip and her observations afterward. As someone travelling on a Pakistani passport, she admitted feeling uncertain initially but later shared how the experience unfolded differently than anticipated.
In the video, a text on screen reads, “10 Hours in Mumbai Airport as a Pakistani." She begins by explaining her situation and says, “I am travelling with a Pakistani passport in India, this is what a layover looks like." She reveals that she was travelling from London to Nepal via Mumbai and felt anxious before departure. “Hi, I am travelling from London to Nepal via Mumbai, and like any normal person, I was nervous boarding the flight because India and Pakistan are not the best of friends," she says. She also mentions taking an 11-hour IndiGo flight and says she would talk more about that part later.
Upon landing in Mumbai, she described her experience as smooth and uneventful. “I finally landed in Mumbai, security checks went smoothly, and to my surprise, there was nothing out of the ordinary," she says. Since she remained in transit, she did not need to clear immigration and stayed inside the international terminal for nearly ten hours, as exiting without a visa is not permitted. Feeling exhausted due to the late hour, she chose to rest at an airport lounge where she could eat and relax while waiting for her connecting flight.
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Her otherwise calm experience briefly changed when she received an unexpected message regarding her luggage. “All was well until I got a text on WhatsApp from an Indian number saying my bag had something suspicious," she says. The issue was later identified as a power bank placed in her checked-in baggage. “To my relief, I was only asked to remove my power bank from the checked-in luggage. The staff was so lovely throughout," she adds. After resolving the matter, she had breakfast and prepared to continue her onward journey to Nepal.
Reflecting on her overall experience, she expressed reassurance about travelling through India as a transit passenger. “So yes, as a Pakistani national, transit through India is very much possible. And Mumbai, we will meet again." In the caption accompanying her video, she mentioned verifying all travel rules in advance and confirmed that transit is allowed provided passengers do not leave the airport. Her post quickly gained traction, with viewers engaging in discussions and sharing their perspectives on cross-border travel experiences.
The video also prompted a wave of positive responses from viewers, many highlighting people-to-people warmth despite political tensions. A user wrote, “We don’t have any problem with Pakistani citizens per se… it is only a diplomatic issue to be resolved with political will from both countries… welcome… I also want to explore Karakoram and Skardu Valley." Another said, “Glad you had a good time at the Mumbai airport! We need more content showing real people and real experiences. Personally, I would love to explore the food scene of Pakistan! Keep rocking and thank you for spreading positive vibes." A comment read, “How lovely you got a slice of Mumbai’s hospitality at the T2 Lounge—Insha’Allah, someday I get to visit your country just to visit the scenic mountains and valleys. God bless." Another user added, “We treat our guests as God, nothing needs to worry, we have an issue with your government, not with common people."