ATTARI: Pakistan on Thursday suspended operation of the Indo-Pak
Samjhauta Express, which runs between
Lahore
and
Attari
in India, on every Thursday and Monday, covering 29 km on this stretch. The train's international route comprises the 3.25-km run between
Wagah
in Pakistan and Attari in India. The move comes amid tension between the neighbouring countries following the February 14
Pulwama attack on a CRPF convoy.
By the evening, India too decided to suspend operations of the Samjhauta Express on its side due to drastic decline in occupancy, especially after the Pulwama attack, according to a PTI report. The Railway Board has decided to cancel all operations from the train's next scheduled run.
As many as 42 passengers, including two Indians, had arrived at the Attari international railway station from Delhi on board the Delhi-Attari Express linking Samjhauta Express on way to Pakistan.
Samjhauta earlier suspended after Babri Masjid demolitionThe passengers were sent to Pakistan via Attari road border after suspension of the train service by Pakistan.
Confirming the news, divisional railway manager, Ferozepur division, Vivek Kumar said, “All the passengers were sent to Pakistan via Attari road border.”The train, which connects families divided by Partition in the two countries, is also called ‘Mohabbaton Ki Train’ (Train of Love).The train, which connects families divided by Partition in the two countries, is also called ‘Mohabbaton Ki Train’ (Train of Love). It was started on July 22, 1976, under the Shimla Agreement between the two nations.
The train had earlier remained suspended from December 10, 1992, to January 1, 2003, following the Babri Masjid demolition and then from December 31, 2001, to January 15, 2004. Pakistan had also cancelled Samjhauta Express due to the Rail Roko agitation by Indian farmers in October, 2015.
According to Pakistan media reports, Pakistan Foreign Office has stated that the Samjhauta Express would resume as soon as the security situation improves between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan government had apparently decided on suspension of Samjhauta Express on Wednesday but informed the Indian authorities only on Thursday morning. In a relief for the passengers faced with the last-minute suspension, the administration had arranged langar for them.
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