South Asia

Pakistan suspends train communication with India

IANS . Attari (Punjab)
Stranded Indian passengers travelling with the Samjhauta Express, also called the Friendship Express that runs between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan, sit at the waiting area at Lahore railway station on 28 February 2019, as Pakistani authorities suspended the train service temporarily. Photo: AFP
Stranded Indian passengers travelling with the Samjhauta Express, also called the Friendship Express that runs between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan, sit at the waiting area at Lahore railway station on 28 February 2019, as Pakistani authorities suspended the train service temporarily. Photo: AFP

Authorities in Pakistan have suspended the Samjhauta Express between India and Pakistan in view of rising tensions between the countries.

The train, which was to leave Lahore for Attari in India early on Thursday, was cancelled and did not arrive here, security officials said.

Passengers who were to travel to India were told they could seek a refund for their booked tickets.

A stranded Indian passengers travelling with the Samjhauta Express, also called the Friendship Express that runs between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan, sits at the waiting area at Lahore railway station on 28 February 2019, as Pakistani authorities suspended the train service temporarily. Photo: AFP
A stranded Indian passengers travelling with the Samjhauta Express, also called the Friendship Express that runs between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan, sits at the waiting area at Lahore railway station on 28 February 2019, as Pakistani authorities suspended the train service temporarily. Photo: AFP

The train runs between both countries on Mondays and Thursdays. It links Lahore with Attari in Punjab.

A link train (of Samjhauta Express) ferries passengers from Attari to Delhi.

On Wednesday, India’s railway minister Piyush Goyal said the Samjhauta Express (link train) service will continue as per schedule from Delhi to Attari in Punjab.

Stranded Indian passengers travelling with the Samjhauta Express, also called the Friendship Express that runs between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan, sit and lay at the waiting area at Lahore railway station on 28 February 2019, as Pakistani authorities suspended the train service temporarily. Photo: AFP
Stranded Indian passengers travelling with the Samjhauta Express, also called the Friendship Express that runs between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan, sit and lay at the waiting area at Lahore railway station on 28 February 2019, as Pakistani authorities suspended the train service temporarily. Photo: AFP

Following the Jaish-e-Mohammad's suicide bombing of a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama which killed 40 troopers, the passenger footfall in the train fell drastically. Hardly a hundred passengers travelled on Monday.

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