INDIA: A two-year-old Pakistani girl, who was successfully operated upon yesterday in southern India for a complicated heart condition, is fast becoming a symbol of peace between the nuclear neighbours who came close to war twice last year, writes Rahul Bedi in New Delhi.
Hundreds of Indians, including the local government, have offered to contribute towards the £4,000 operation to mend two holes in Noor Fatima's heart at the privately-run Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in Bangalore.
The hospital has reportedly waived all charges for the complex surgery not available in Pakistan.
A crowd of anxious people gathered outside the hospital as television news channels and newspapers flashed the news that doctors had advanced Noor's operation by a day following complications.
"Her nationality is of no consequence. We want her to recover fast," a Bangalore resident told a news channel.
"The six-hour operation was successful. She will be kept in the intensive thoracic unit for the next three days," hospital spokesman Mr K.S. Vasuki said.
"We do not always know how children will respond to such a surgery, and it will take some time for her to leave the hospital."
Noor's father, Nadeem Sajjad, said: "I have complete faith in the capabilities of the doctors here." He added that he felt "comfortable" bringing his daughter to India because culturally it was similar to Pakistan.
Putting aside rivalry that stretches beyond nuclear and military affairs into the daily lives of people on either side of the border, he said the Indian doctors were competent and the quality of treatment good.
"This \ is a good first step and we hope it will translate into something bigger and a real rapprochement is possible between the two countries."
The resumption of the bus service last week between the Pakistani border city of Lahore and India's capital New Delhi 18 months after it was suspended, made Noor's travel to India possible.