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India, Pak agree to continue Samjhauta Express

The bi-weekly Samjhauta Express, the only rail link between India and Pakistan, will not be stopped. This was decided at a meeting between railway officials from Delhi and Islamabad at Wagah today.

However, today's agreement will be valid only till April 30. The two sides will meet again on April 26 to sort out other issues related to the smooth running of the train.

In today's meeting both sides agreed that in the larger interests of the people, the train will not be cancelled. However, Indian coaches will cross over up to the Wagah side of Pakistan from where the passengers will get into the Pakistan train.

The Pakistani authorities had earlier threatened to stop the train, if Indian Railways did not provide its coaches.

According to the agreement, both the governments have to provide bogies for six months respectively. Indian Railways had stopped sending its coaches following an increase in the smuggling of contraband and counterfeit currency through this train.

The Samjhauta Express was started on September 22, 1975 after the Simla Agreement. The service was suspended for a short period in 1984 in the wake of Operation Bluestar and again in 1992 following the Babri Masjid episode.

UNI

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Passengers don't want Samjhauta Express to be cancelled

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