Pakistan pulls brakes on Samjhauta Express, had to depart from Lahore on Thursday

India said that according to Pakistan the missing IAF pilot was in their custody. "We are ascertaining that," Raveek Kumar, MEA spokesman said.

FILE PIC: AFP.

New Delhi: Amid heightened tensions with India, Pakistan on Wednesday stopped the Samjhauta Express. The train was scheduled to depart from Lahore on Thursday and as per reports the passengers have been told by the authorities on their side to not arrive at the railway station. The Samjhauta Express, named after the Hindi word for "understanding", comprises six sleeper coaches and an AC 3-tier coach. The train was inaugurated in the 1970s under the terms of the peace treaty that settled the war between the two nations in 1971. The bi-weekly train departs from the Old Delhi Railway Station at 11.10 p.m on Wednesday and Sunday. From Lahore, the train departs on Monday and Thursday. The development comes after the Ministry of External Affairs today said that Pakistan Air Force targeted military installations in India in response to Indian counter-terrorism operations but their attempts were foiled successfully though one Indian pilot is "missing in action". Pakistan also claimed that it shot down two Indian fighter jets over Pakistani air space and arrested two pilots, as it closed its airspace amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. India said that according to Pakistan the missing IAF pilot was in their custody. "We are ascertaining that," Raveek Kumar, MEA spokesman said.