Pak-India Dosti Bus restricted to Wagah Border

Those travelling to India will now have to take bus from Wagah. Those coming from India will disembark at the border

LAHORE: Two months after a deadly suicide bomb attack on the Wagah border post with India left at least 60 people dead, Pakistan on Wednesday took precautionary measures and curbed movement of the bi-lateral ‘Dosti Bus’.

DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf told The Express Tribune that the Pak-India Dosti Bus had been restricted to the Wagah Border due to terror threats. Authorities have shifted the entire bus operation to a sub-office at the border.

“We are operating the entire bus operations at the border -- including arrival and departure,” a Pakistan Toursim Development Corporation (PTDC) official confirmed to The Express Tribune.

Per the new measures, those seeking to travel to India on the bus via Wagah, will need to make their way to the border post to board the bus to Delhi or Amritsar. Previously, the bus used to run from the PTDC office in Lahore.

Similarly, those passengers travelling to Pakistan from India will now disembark at Wagah Border. Previously, passengers from India were dropped off at one of two destinations in Pakistan, either the PTDC office in Gulberg, Lahore, or at the city office in Nankana Sahib.

"Although it will be a hassle for passengers on both sides, we have taken these steps for their security," the official said, adding that the government might consider restoring the old terminals after reviewing the law and order situation.

Officials also cited the attack on the school in Peshawar and the possibility of reprisal attacks after the moratorium on the death penalty for terrorists was lifted in December.

Earlier, police had started providing escort to the Dosti Bus travelling between Wagah, Gulberg and Nankana Sahib.

The bus service between the two countries was started in March 16, 1999, primarily to enhance people-to-people contact.