An American woman has travelled to Pakistan to marry a resident of Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after the couple met online through social media.

 

Sajid Zeb Khan received Mindy at Islamabad International Airport and brought her to his hometown. Mindy, a flight attendant based in Chicago, was warmly welcomed by the local community.

 

Speaking to the media, Sajid shared that he and Mindy first connected on Facebook two years ago, and their friendship gradually turned into love.

 

“We met through Facebook and after some time she proposed to me,” Sajid said, adding that both families were informed about their decision.

 

Sajid also informed the police that they do not require any security arrangements, as they plan to marry soon. He confirmed that their nikah will take place on Tuesday (today), following Islamic traditions and local customs.

 

In a video message recorded from Sajid’s home, Mindy expressed her happiness, saying: “My name is Mindy and I’m from America. I’m here in Pakistan for the first time. It’s a very beautiful, peaceful country. I come for Sajid Khan and we plan to marry soon.”

 

Earlier, a 27-year-old American woman, Kerinsha Madison Grace from South Carolina, arrived in Jhang to marry her online friend-turned-fiancé, Naeemul Hassan, after two years of social media friendship. Kerinsha embraced Islam at Jamia Arabia Darul Huda, changed her name to Kaniz Ayesha, and married the 29-year-old at an advocate’s office in the presence of witnesses.

 

Kerinsha was previously married in the US and has three children but divorced her husband before beginning her relationship with Hassan.

 

Similar cross-cultural unions have made headlines before. In October 2024, Onijah Andrew Robinson, another American woman, travelled to Karachi to marry a 19-year-old Pakistani man, Nidal Ahmed Memon, whom she had met online. However, the marriage did not take place due to family pressure, and Onijah eventually returned to the US after spending several months in Pakistan.

 

In March 2022, a French woman came to Pakpattan, Punjab, with her mother to marry Ali Raza after connecting with him online. She embraced Islam, changed her name to Zoya, and tied the knot in a simple ceremony.

 

Back in 2018, an American woman named Mary Kathleen also made headlines when she flew to Haripur to marry Adeel Awan. After nearly a year of conversations through Facebook, she accepted Islam, adopted the name Maryam, and married Adeel in the presence of his family.