• Source:JND
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Ariha Shah, a four-year-old girl of Indian origin, has been living in German foster care for nearly 40 months after being separated from her parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah. The case, which has drawn deep concern from the Indian government, resurfaced in diplomatic talks this week as External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar raised the issue with his German counterpart in New Delhi.

The Shah family’s ordeal began when Ariha, then an infant, sustained injuries while under the care of her grandmother. German child welfare authorities interpreted the incident as potential child abuse, despite the parents' insistence that it was an accident. The child was subsequently placed under state custody, where she has remained since.

Over the years, legal proceedings in Germany have prolonged the case, preventing the family from regaining custody. The situation has deeply affected Ariha’s parents, who live in Mira Bhayander, Thane district, Maharashtra, and have been campaigning tirelessly for their daughter’s return.

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Jaishankar Intervenes

The sensitive issue came up during bilateral talks between EAM Jaishankar and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who is visiting India. While the primary agenda revolved around doubling trade, resolving export control issues, and strengthening defence and technology cooperation, Jaishankar did not miss the opportunity to highlight Ariha’s case.

“We appreciate Germany's goal of doubling trade with India,” Jaishankar said, underscoring the importance of the partnership. But he also emphasised that humanitarian concerns, such as the well-being of Ariha, cannot be overlooked.

India’s Diplomatic Push

This is not the first time the Indian government has intervened. The Indian embassy in Berlin has been actively pursuing the case, and Ariha’s story has sparked debate in both countries about child welfare laws and the rights of parents in cross-cultural contexts.

India has maintained that Ariha should be allowed to grow up in her cultural environment, closer to her roots, while German authorities have so far adhered to their protocols of child protection.

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The meeting between Jaishankar and Wadephul marked the first high-level exchange since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office. While trade and strategic issues dominated the agenda, the Ariha Shah case highlighted how individual human-interest stories can take centre stage in diplomacy.