The bus runs between Pakistan and India four times a week. PHOTO: AFP
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.
COMMENTS (17)
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Pakistanis have been brain washed to hate India from early age.
Writing is clear on the wall- it is the beginning of the end of the bus service.
I think, it is not good news for Pakistan and it should be run in both countries.
@AVMPolpot:
Dream is nothing, dreaming is everything.
You had the same dream in 1965, alas it was broken just like your dream of having a toilet
@AB: First of all, I have never made any such broad claims deriding Islam -ever.
Your equivalence though is not correct. During Islamic rule, certainly the proportion of Hindus in india in the part that these kings ruled did go down significantly. Reverse is the case with Muslim population in independent India.
Good. 'Amn Ki Asha' on hold till India is taught a lesson.
I agree to all pakis above. Immediately stop all people to people exchange ASAP.
@Cynic Waheed: " Please shelve this service at least till the time Modi is around" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++= Modi will be around much longer till Pakistan will be around.
@Gp65: Just using the same logic, try preaching the same to general indian social media bregade who like to use the similar tone for Islam. Had Islam been not tolerant for other religions, there won't be any other religion left in India. Islam ruled it for 1000 years (with ups & downs), remember?
@Gp65: dear, you misconceived, i am not talking about hinduism, i am talking about special version of modi like taliban in pakistan, are congress and other parties not hindu?
@raider: If it was in our culture to be enemy of other religions, 3 religions would not have been born here AFTER Hinduism. India would not be the only country in he orld where Jews were not persecuted, where Parsis found a home when persecuted in Iran, poplation of Muslims in India would not have grown from 9% to 14% in last 67 years, non-Hindus would not have risen to the top in every field be it Bollywood, music, cricket, business or for that matter becoming PM, President, CJ, COAS or CEC.
pakistan now should spew forth a "keeping in restriction plan of india", hardliners are not going else where, it is their culture to be enemy of other religions, how would it be eliminated
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: You're completely wrong. I still have family living in India, family that chose not to migrate after to Pakistan after 1947 like my family did. Stop spreading hate, panic, and fear.. just because the leaders of both countries are always going up against each other doesn't mean the average person needs to. Eventually we will need to come to terms with the fact that we are actually more similar to India/Indians than any other country, working together would result in a very strong and unbreakable alliance.
Yes India's agencies have funded separatist groups on Balochistan, etc. But Pakistan has also fought proxy wars with India using "mujahideens", no one is an angel here. Both have been up against each others throats since the split. Be the change. Work towards love and peace, not hate and war.
After close to seven decades, I don't think that any relatives of Pakistani nationals would still be alive in India, so why there is a need to operate Pak-India Dosti (friendship) bus service between Pakistan and India.
Every day Indian Army is killing Jawans of Pakistan Army, Rangers and FC and still people think that there is a friendship between Pakistan and India. I personally think that there is nothing such thing exists between the two countries.
Let's be realistic and stop all Indian nationals to enter into Pakistan any more. At the same time I would also request Pakistani nationals to forget India once and for all due to our bitter relations with India since independence of Pakistan.
Talking about friendship with India is equivalent to hitting head with the wall. Furthermore, India does not want to see Pakistan on the world map, in such a case the word "friendship" does not exists in the minds of Pakistanis.
We are enemies and will remain enemies till the last day of the world.
The best thing to do is to curb all interactions between the two countries and build Great Walls between the two on both sides of the border and mine it heavily. Similarly, no more movement of boats (fishing or otherwise) anywhere close to each other's borders. Shut down embassies as well.
Pakistan should immediately call this service off once and for all. We don't have to be friends with our sworn enemy, India. They just killed two army officers who were going to attend a friend 'flag' meeting in India. They have already killed dozens of villagers in border areas. Just read the comments on the social media and relevant websites and see how venomous these Indians are for Pakistan.
Please shelve this service at least till the time Modi is around! We cant trust a looney like him so better save your energies and use them elsewhere!
Thanks,