Thu Mar 20 23:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Pakistani Entrepreneur’s Unexpected Mumbai Layover Sparks Online Debate
**MUMBAI, INDIA** – A Pakistani entrepreneur’s recent transit through Mumbai’s airport on an IndiGo flight has ignited a social media firestorm and sparked discussions about travel restrictions between India and Pakistan. Waqas Hassan, founder of AiForAll and based in Singapore, revealed his journey in an Instagram video that quickly went viral.
Hassan, travelling from Singapore to Saudi Arabia, booked a connecting flight with a six-hour layover in Mumbai. While technically legal for Pakistani passport holders on connecting flights, this is rarely done due to stringent visa requirements and the generally tense political climate between the two nations. Crucially, Pakistani citizens are not permitted to leave the airport during such layovers.
During his time in the airport, Hassan enjoyed the airport lounge, purchased souvenirs, and even sampled the local vada pav snack. He explained his choice of an Indian airline due to cost-effectiveness for east-west flights.
However, Hassan’s experience wasn’t without its surprises. He noted that both he and airport officials were taken aback when his Pakistani passport was presented. His video has drawn mixed reactions online, with some praising the rare interaction and calling for eased travel restrictions between the two countries, while others questioned the enjoyment derived from remaining within the confines of an airport. The incident highlights the complex political realities shaping travel between India and Pakistan, and underscores the potential for unexpected encounters in the increasingly interconnected world.
First Piper 