Pakistan rejects request to resume Samjhauta, Thar trains

Ministry directs authorities to keep services suspended for indefinite period

LAHORE: The Ministry of Railways has rejected a request by the Indian Railways to restore operations of the Samjhauta Express and the Thar Express trains, which were suspended last week in the wake of New Delhi’s illegal move to strip occupied Kashmir (IOK) of its special status.

According to sources, Indian Ferozwala Railway officials had requested the Pakistan Railways to resume operation of the Samjhauta Express which plies between Lahore and Attari and the Thar Express which plies between Karachi to Munabao in Rajisthan.

However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Railways rejected the request and issued dispatches to divisional superintendents of Lahore and Karachi, directing them to keep the train services suspended for an indefinite time.

The sources said Indian Railway officials had asked Pakistan to restore both suspended trains according to their schedule. The Samjhauta Express runs twice in a week – Monday and Thursday – while the Thar Express only runs once a week on Friday and reach India the next day.

Due to suspension of the trains, passengers in both countries who travel via these trains are facing difficulties. At present, the only open route between the two rival countries is that of Wagah border, which could be crossed on foot.