From Illinois to Upper Dir: American woman travels to Pakistan to wed online friend
Mindy Rasmussen, a 47-year-old procurement specialist at an aviation repair station in Springfield, Illinois, arrived in Pakistan's mountainous Upper Dir district's Usheri Darra valley on June 29 to marry Sajid Zeb Khan, a 31-year-old who works at his father's medical store.
She's not the first foreigner who crossed countries to marry a resident of Upper Dir, a district known for its picturesque scenery. An Indian woman, Anju, converted to Islam in July 2023 and changed her name to Fatima before getting married to Nasrullah, a resident of Upper Dir. Anju met Nasrallah on Facebook, with their romance making headlines worldwide at the time.
Rasmussen, who converted to Islam and adopted the name Zulekha Zeb before marrying Khan on July 2, said he befriended her on Facebook a year ago.
'He (Sajid Khan) sent me a friend request on Facebook and I thought he was very handsome, so I accepted,' Rasmussen told Arab News, laughing. 'His first message to me was, 'I am Sajid Khan from Pakistan.''
Rasmussen said she responded to Khan and the two got to know each other better as time progressed.
'He is a really sweet, loving man and I fell in love with him over this past year that we have been talking,' she said.
Khan is the eldest of nine siblings, who include five sisters and four brothers. The newlywed couple are currently living in Usherai Darra, a famous remote tourist spot in Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
Khan told Arab News his conversations with Rasmussen went from messages to video calls as they grew close. Rasmussen eventually spoke to Khan's family before she proposed marriage.
'At the end, she proposed to me, saying, 'Why don't we get married as we are so close,'' he said.
Traveling to the US was always difficult for Khan, given that Pakistanis have to undergo extensive background checks for a US visa, sometimes leading to delays and denials. Hence, he invited Rasmussen to come to Pakistan instead.
And now that she's here, he plans to take her to famous tourist attractions in KP.
'We will go around in our own land, like our Swat, Kumrat, Chitral, Usherai Darra, especially Nehag Darra,' he said.
'AN OPEN MIND'
Touched by the people's hospitality in Pakistan, Rasmussen praised the 'tightly knit' community for showering her with affection.
'The love that they have shown me, you know, we don't really have this back in the US,' she said. 'This level of community. I mean, everybody is a neighbor, is a friend, is a family,' she added.
Pakistan's northwestern KP province, despite being home to several glacial lakes, mountain ranges and picturesque locations that lure tourists in droves, has suffered from a surge in militancy recently.
Pakistani Taliban militants have launched attacks against law enforcers and citizens, especially in the tribal districts bordering Afghanistan, in their bid to impose their strict version of Islamic law.
Rasmussen, however, said she had experienced neither 'terrorism' nor any violence during her stay in the country. She advised foreigners not to harbor preconceived notions about KP.
'Come with an open mind and you will see for yourself that this is a safe place, a peaceful place and just wonderful people,' she said.
However, her visa expires on August 14 and she is in Pakistan for only a month.
'I plan to go back to the US and then we are going to get Sajid's [immigration] paperwork going and he is going to come to the US with me,' she said.
Khan, meanwhile, insists he didn't marry Rasmussen to secure an easy path to American citizenship, saying that she was his 'honor' now.
'She has arrived here by choice and has married me by choice,' he said. 'Now, she can live by choice and leave by choice.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China
ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani films, Nayab and Deemak, have won major accolades at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival in China, state-run news agency APP reported on Monday. For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ The festival showcased 27 films from SCO member states, including China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and Central Asian countries. Organized to foster regional cinematic exchange, the event featured screenings, industry forums, a film technology expo, and a gala concert, with awards presented in ten categories. The SCO Film Festival first launched in 2018 and is a cultural initiative of the multilateral bloc to promote cooperation in cinema and the creative industries among member countries. 'Pakistani film Nayab and Deemak received prestigious 'Jury Special Award' and 'Best Editing Award' respectively at the colorful concluding ceremony of SCO film festival held at Chongqing, China,' Associated Press of Pakistan reported. Nayab, released in 2024, is a sports-drama centered on a young woman from Karachi, played by Yumna Zaidi, who aspires to become a professional cricketer despite intense family and societal opposition. The cast includes Fawad Khan, Javed Sheikh, and Adnan Siddiqui. The film has previously won multiple awards, including Best Foreign Film and Best First-Time Filmmaker (Feature) at the World Film Festival in Cannes, and a Special Jury Diploma at the 30th Minsk International Film Festival. 'The cinema was packed, and what truly moved me was how deeply they engaged with the film,' Nayab's director Umair Nasir Ali told APP after the film's screen at the SCO festival. 'They picked up on the layers, the emotional arcs and asked thoughtful, relevant questions that showed how closely they had followed the story.' Deemak is a psychological horror film directed by Rafay Akbar Rashdi and starring Soniya Hussyn, Faysal Quraishi, Samina Peerzada, and Bushra Ansari. Set in an aging home haunted by unexplained phenomena, the film explores family tensions and mental trauma. It became Pakistan's highest-grossing horror film when it released earlier this year, earning over Rs60 million [$211,173] in its opening week. Pakistan's film industry has seen a steady resurgence in recent years, with a new generation of filmmakers experimenting with genres from sports dramas to horror and social realism. Joyland (2022) became the first Pakistani feature to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section, and was later selected as Pakistan's official entry to the Oscars. The country has also received two Academy Award wins in the documentary short category by filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. Meanwhile, The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022) set new box office records, becoming Pakistan's highest-grossing film to date and finding global audiences with its big-budget, Punjabi-language action storytelling.
Arab News
a day ago
- Arab News
From Illinois to Upper Dir: American woman travels to Pakistan to wed online friend
Upper Dir, PAKISTAN: An American woman recently journeyed thousands of miles from Illinois to a remote northwestern Pakistani district to marry a man who befriended her online over a year ago, praising the people here for their hospitable nature and urging other foreigners to ignore the 'negative' perceptions about Pakistan. Mindy Rasmussen, a 47-year-old procurement specialist at an aviation repair station in Springfield, Illinois, arrived in Pakistan's mountainous Upper Dir district's Usheri Darra valley on June 29 to marry Sajid Zeb Khan, a 31-year-old who works at his father's medical store. She's not the first foreigner who crossed countries to marry a resident of Upper Dir, a district known for its picturesque scenery. An Indian woman, Anju, converted to Islam in July 2023 and changed her name to Fatima before getting married to Nasrullah, a resident of Upper Dir. Anju met Nasrallah on Facebook, with their romance making headlines worldwide at the time. Rasmussen, who converted to Islam and adopted the name Zulekha Zeb before marrying Khan on July 2, said he befriended her on Facebook a year ago. 'He (Sajid Khan) sent me a friend request on Facebook and I thought he was very handsome, so I accepted,' Rasmussen told Arab News, laughing. 'His first message to me was, 'I am Sajid Khan from Pakistan.'' Rasmussen said she responded to Khan and the two got to know each other better as time progressed. 'He is a really sweet, loving man and I fell in love with him over this past year that we have been talking,' she said. Khan is the eldest of nine siblings, who include five sisters and four brothers. The newlywed couple are currently living in Usherai Darra, a famous remote tourist spot in Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Khan told Arab News his conversations with Rasmussen went from messages to video calls as they grew close. Rasmussen eventually spoke to Khan's family before she proposed marriage. 'At the end, she proposed to me, saying, 'Why don't we get married as we are so close,'' he said. Traveling to the US was always difficult for Khan, given that Pakistanis have to undergo extensive background checks for a US visa, sometimes leading to delays and denials. Hence, he invited Rasmussen to come to Pakistan instead. And now that she's here, he plans to take her to famous tourist attractions in KP. 'We will go around in our own land, like our Swat, Kumrat, Chitral, Usherai Darra, especially Nehag Darra,' he said. 'AN OPEN MIND' Touched by the people's hospitality in Pakistan, Rasmussen praised the 'tightly knit' community for showering her with affection. 'The love that they have shown me, you know, we don't really have this back in the US,' she said. 'This level of community. I mean, everybody is a neighbor, is a friend, is a family,' she added. Pakistan's northwestern KP province, despite being home to several glacial lakes, mountain ranges and picturesque locations that lure tourists in droves, has suffered from a surge in militancy recently. Pakistani Taliban militants have launched attacks against law enforcers and citizens, especially in the tribal districts bordering Afghanistan, in their bid to impose their strict version of Islamic law. Rasmussen, however, said she had experienced neither 'terrorism' nor any violence during her stay in the country. She advised foreigners not to harbor preconceived notions about KP. 'Come with an open mind and you will see for yourself that this is a safe place, a peaceful place and just wonderful people,' she said. However, her visa expires on August 14 and she is in Pakistan for only a month. 'I plan to go back to the US and then we are going to get Sajid's [immigration] paperwork going and he is going to come to the US with me,' she said. Khan, meanwhile, insists he didn't marry Rasmussen to secure an easy path to American citizenship, saying that she was his 'honor' now. 'She has arrived here by choice and has married me by choice,' he said. 'Now, she can live by choice and leave by choice.'
Arab News
5 days ago
- Arab News
From Riyadh to Rawalpindi: How Pakistani women are redefining the abaya
ISLAMABAD: In Pakistan, the abaya is undergoing a quiet but striking transformation. Long associated with uniform modesty and religious conservatism, this traditional black cloak worn by many Muslim women is now being reimagined by a new generation — one that blends cultural heritage with bold personal expression, often inspired by the glitz and fluidity of Gulf fashion capitals. Originally worn across the Arabian Peninsula, the abaya has deep roots in Bedouin dress and later became a symbol of modesty under Islamic influence. In Pakistan, it gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by rising religiosity, increased migration to Gulf countries, and the influence of satellite television beaming in images of Arab fashion. For decades, black reigned supreme: functional, symbolic, and widely accepted. But today, the abaya has become more than a religious garment. It is now a medium of fashion, expression and cultural exchange. 'The Middle East has turned abayas into a fashion trend,' said Nimra Saleem, a designer who is preparing to launch a dedicated abaya brand. 'The Gulf states introduce new cuts, designs, colors, and fabrics every year. So, the cuts of my abayas, the inspiration was taken from Saudi Arabia itself, and I made such cuts that are not available in Pakistan yet.' Saleem grew up in Saudi Arabia and returned to Pakistan six years ago to pursue a degree in textile design at the National College of Arts in Rawalpindi. Her thesis focused on women migrating from the Gulf, and she explored how Arabic aesthetics could merge with Pakistani tastes. Now, the abaya brand she plans to launch will reflect this evolving sensibility, she hopes. 'Initially, abayas here were limited to plain black, but now people are using them as a form of self-expression, wearing them in vibrant colors, pairing them with colorful hijabs, and choosing fabrics like georgette and silk. Printed abayas are also becoming more popular.' To accommodate Pakistan's climate while staying true to Gulf-inspired styles, Saleem uses lightweight fabrics similar to those worn in the Middle East. 'These abayas can be worn in Pakistan too because they're very weather friendly,' she said. SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE The cultural pull of the Gulf, particularly from style hubs like Dubai and Jeddah, continues to influence aesthetics across South Asia, especially among upwardly mobile urban Pakistanis. Social media has only amplified that impact, offering a steady stream of Gulf fashion influencers and modestwear labels that are increasingly global in reach. For designers like Abdul Rahman, a boutique owner in Rawalpindi with a strong social media following, the shift in tastes is undeniable. 'Over the past five years, trends have changed,' he said. 'We design abayas according to customer choice, some like party wear, some need casual wear, and some prefer normal embroidery.' Rahman's business, which once catered mostly to domestic buyers, now processes online orders from across the globe. 'We get a lot of orders from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and UAE because abayas there are costly,' he explained. His store offers options ranging from Rs3,000 ($11) to Rs20,000 ($71), making Pakistani-made garments more affordable for diaspora communities seeking modestwear. This intersection of modesty and style also resonates with many young women in Pakistan, who say the abaya is no longer seen as restrictive, but adaptable. 'The time is changing, and people are understanding that it's not about the black color,' said Areeba Faisal, a university student in Islamabad. 'It's about modesty and how you carry yourself.' While she personally favors black abayas for most occasions, she appreciates the variety now available. 'On some occasions, I prefer to wear this kind of stuff— colored and embroidered abayas,' she said. 'Islam does not mandate wearing a specific type of gown, nor does it require it to be black or free of embellishments.' Another student, Humaira Javeed, echoed that view. 'Everything evolves with time— including clothing. Abayas are no exception,' she said. She prefers light colors, such as skin tones or pastels, but still sees black as modern and versatile. For her, wearing an abaya is more cultural than religious, and there's space within tradition for creativity. 'It's not something to be stigmatized in any way,' she added. Indeed, the new wave of abaya culture in Pakistan reflects broader conversations about identity and modernity in the Muslim world. In places like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, where strict dress codes once mandated uniform black cloaks, fashion-forward abayas now come in soft hues, adorned with intricate embroidery, pleats, lace, and avant-garde silhouettes. These trends are finding fertile ground in Pakistan, where decades of exposure to Gulf culture through migration, media, and remittances have reshaped everything from food to fashion. 'Girls expressing themselves through abayas inspired me to create pieces that prove modesty can be just as fashionable and trend-aware,' said Saleem. 'You can be modest, and you can still be in trend.'
