Delhi-bound Samjhota Express finally departs for India

Train service between Indian and Pakistan resumes after it was suspended twice last week

The Delhi-bound Samjhota Express, which was called back from Wagah border on October 8, departed for India on Thursday, Radio Pakistan reported.

The train service with 122 Indians and 70 Pakistanis on board left for Attari this morning after Indian authorities gave a go ahead to Pakistan Railways.

Read: Security threats: Samjhauta Express called back from Wagah

The Samjhota Express train service between Pakistan and India was suspended at least twice last week when the Indian government did not allow it to enter in its territory in the wake of “security threats arising out of widespread protests by Indian farmers”.

Farmers in Indian Punjab have been protesting against the policies of the state government over inadequate compensation for the losses to their crops this year. The protests have forced the suspension of all rail traffic in the state in the past two days.

Samjhota Express departs for Attari from Lahore railway station twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. The train operations have been divided by the authorities of both countries in a unique fashion.

For six months, Pakistan Railways runs the train from Lahore to Attari station, from where the Indian Railways takes passengers to Dehli. For the next six months, the Indian Railways runs the train service from Delhi to Lahore and then back to Delhi.

In February 2007, suspected Hindu extremists had bombed the Samjhota Express, killing 68 people with 42 Pakistanis among them. Earlier this year, Islamabad had protested Indian’s recent decision not to oppose the bail for the prime accused in the case.

Read: Risks remain: Samjhauta Express to depart on Oct 15

Around 200 passengers travel to and from India on board the Samjhauta Express but the number increases significantly when Indian Sikh pilgrims use the service to visit their holy sites in Pakistan.