President Pranab Mukherjee with Geeta, a deaf-mute Indian woman who accidentally crossed over to Pakistan a decade ago, during their meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. (Press Trust of India photo)
President Pranab Mukherjee today described
Geeta, a young Indian woman who returned home after spending years in Pakistan, as a "symbol of India-Pakistan unity".
The president met the deaf-and-mute 23-year-old at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and blessed her.
"You are the daughter of both our countries, a symbol of India-Pakistan unity. God has listened to your prayers," a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement quoted Mr Mukherjee as telling her.
The president thanked
Bilqis Bano Edhi and the Edhi Foundation for their good work in Pakistan.
Ms Geeta was about 11 years old when she crossed into Pakistan in 2003 by mistake.
Pakistan Rangers handed her over to the Edhi Foundation, a social welfare organisation that has looked after her since then.