India-Pakistan rail link to resume with Thar Link Express

The Thar Link Express, named after famous Thar Desert, originating from Khokhrapar at Pakistan's southern border to Munabao, will now connect both the nations for another three years (1 February 2018 to 31 January 2021). The seven-coach train is expected to run once in a week and carry 400 passengers.
The legacy of peace process for both the nations to connect each other through railways was originally signed in 2006. Today, it is considered as one of the cheapest modes of transport between the two neighbouring countries.

The resurgence of the rail link between Sindh and Rajasthan is definitely a great thing, invalidating the arguments that peace process between India and Pakistan is just helping the smaller provinces especially Sindh, for example, Lahore’s commuting link to India includes two buses and rail links, with air connection to Delhi. While in the south, travelling from Karachi to Delhi or Mumbai just had air connection, till the renewal of Thar link express.

Talking about the travel time and halts, there are a few teething problems on the link, including no stops at Tharparkar area, and that the train just stops at Hyderabad and at Mirpurkhas, where Indians are not allowed to get down. Which means, those who have to get down at Mirpurkhas, which is 4-5 hours journey to Zero Point will have to board the train from Karachi (travel time 5 hours) and then travel in opposite direction to head back to Munabao, adding 10 hours to the travelling time.

Considering this attempt to strengthen the peace process, visas to more cities should be granted in case of Thar Express, including Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Hyderabad from the Pakistani side in exchange of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Ahmedabad to shorten the time travel and discrepancies.