Samjhauta Express resumes run, 174 stuck in Pakistan return

ATTARI: Passengers were relieved to know that Samjhauta Express was resumed after a brief suspension in the wake of the heightened tension between the two countries. As many as 174 passengers arrived at the Attari international railway station onboard Samjhauta Express, and 12 passengers left for Pakistan.

Pakistan on February 28 had suspended Samjhauta Express owing to escalated tension between the two countries and in a reciprocal decision India too scrapped the operation of the train. However, Pakistan decided to resume the train service on Monday.

Holding ‘misbah’ (Islamic rosary) in her hand, Mehnaz, a resident of Meerut told TOI that she had gone to meet her relatives in Lahore but when the news of the Indian air strike broke out, there was anger among Pakistanis and the atmosphere became anti-India. “But not in the family as everyone was supportive. They suggested I should leave for home at the earliest. Then the news of the cancellation of Samjhauta Express came and I had no option but to wait and stay inside,” she said.

Another passenger from Pakistan who refused to give her name said, “May good sense prevail upon governments of both India and Pakistan. They should think about us before taking any extreme step.”

A resident of Karachi said it was high time that Pakistan stopped harbouring terrorists. “Ever since I heard about the resumption of the train service, I am relaxed and had been praying since then that the conditions remain normal between the two countries.”

The Pakistani national added that all 12 passengers who arrived to board the Delhi-Attari Express spent the night in the same bogey. One of them said, “India and Pakistan can’t change their neighbours, nor can we change our relatives.”