Divya, now Dr Hafsa after converting to Islam after her marriage to Pakistani doctor Aman Khan, celebrated her first marriage anniversary July 8 by cutting a cake along with her husband and in-laws at their residence in Mardan in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
"Earlier we were concerned about possible reprisals from Hindu extremists in India, if we go there but now we are worried about the likely threats to our lives from the Islamic extremists here," Dr Divya, who is from Kayankulam in Kerala, told PTI over phone from Mardan.
The two doctors fell in love while studying medicine in Lovo Medical School in Ukarine.
Her husband too expressed fears about their safety. "I am deeply concerned why Pakistan government has not granted citizenship to my wife even though it was granted routinely in the past as law says the spouse of Pakistani citizen is entitled for citizenship. Now I am told that living in Pakistan is very dangerous since I married a Hindu girl," he said.
The couple said they have not received specific threats but keep hearing very "disquieting" rumours about possible attacks as Mardan is located
"I don't think we are safe here either," says Aman.
Both Aman and Divya say they would like to visit India provided there was enough security to meet her mother who lived in Kayankulam, but they are hesitant to meet the Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh who in Pakistan to attend SAARC Foreign Ministers conference which began today. "We do not know what will be the reaction here if we meet the Indian Minister," Aman says. He would like to visit India if there was security but is not sure whether he could settle down there.
"The government could provide security for few days. I am not sure whether one could be secure for life there" he said.
The couple are also exploring the possibilities to get citizenship in a third country, preferably Britain, the US or any other European nation.
Dr Divya, who is pregnant, married Aman last July after converting to Islam soon after her arrival in Karachi. She later worked in a local hospital in Mardan with Aman but gave up the job as she is expecting the baby.
Her fate now hangs in balance as the High Court in Peshawar, which stayed her deportation and asked the Pakistan Interior Ministry to file a detail rejoinder listing reasons for its refusal to grant her citizenship, is expected to pronounce its orders later this before August 30.