NEW DELHI: The Indo-Pak Samjhauta Express will not run on Sunday and Monday, even as Islamabad has expressed concern over the train’s cancellation by India in recent days.
India responded by saying that the Samjhauta Express is one of the several trains cancelled due to farmers’ agitation that involved rail blockade in East Punjab.
The Samjhauta Express, which runs between Delhi and Lahore via Wagah was cancelled last Thursday due to agitation by farmers in East Punjab. The Northern Railway on Saturday announced that the operation of the train would remain cancelled on Sunday and Monday too.
Director General (South Asia) of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Faisal summoned First Secretary of Commission of India in Islamabad S Raghuram on Friday to convey his government’s concern over cancellation of Samjhauta Express on Thursday.
“The cancellation caused inconvenience to more than 200 passengers from Pakistan and India,” a Pakistan government press release said on Saturday. “The Government of Pakistan has taken all necessary steps to accommodate the stranded Indian passengers not permitted to cross the border,” said Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated that Samjhauta Express was among 75 trains travelling through Punjab that were cancelled due to local agitation, including rail blockade.
Indian railway authorities informed their Pakistani counterparts that the train could not be run due to the prevailing situation.