India cancels Samjhauta Express operations on its end, cites "lack of occupancy"

Railways has decided to cancel operations on its side due to drastic declines in the number of passengers traveling to the other side, especially after the Pulwama attack.

File Image/ Attari-bound Samjhauta Express/ (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)

New Delhi: Indian Railways on Thursday decided to cancel the Samjhauta Express connecting Pakistan and India, hours after the Pakistani side pulled brakes on the train, amid tension between the two countries. As per information received, Railways has decided to cancel operations on its side due to drastic declines in the number of passengers traveling to the other side. The decline in occupancy has been witnessed especially after the Pulwama terror attack, and the following suspension of cross-border services, agencies reported. It has not yet been decided when the services will be resumed. The Railway Board cancelled all operations of the Attari Special Express, Delhi-Attari-Delhi, from the train’s next scheduled run which is on Sunday. India’s Delhi-Attari train, along with Pakistan’s Lahore-Wagah train, jointly forms up the Samjhauta Express.  Passengers have to switch trains at the Attari-Wagah border. Pakistan already suspended the operation of the train on its end after tension escalated between the countries following its attempt to target Indian military establishments in an air space violation on Wednesday, which came as a response to India’s counter terrorism operations. As per sources at least 40 passengers remain stranded at Attari after Pakistan suspended operation on its sides. On Thursday, the Wagah station master sent a message to his Attari counterpart that the passenger and parcel train which comes to Attari station from the Pakistan side at 12.30 pm will not be coming till further notice, officials said. Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) spokesman said in a statement the operations of the train had been suspended Thursday "in view of the prevailing tensions between Pakistan and India." "Samjhauta Express will resume its operations as soon as the security situation improves between India and Pakistan," the FO said, not giving any specific date for resuming the services.