Samjhauta Express shut down, says Pak Minister, India denies claim

Islamabad has ‘shut down’ the Samjhauta Express train service between India and Pakistan, its railway minister Sheikh Rasheed announced on Thursday. Indian officials, however, say no formal notification to this effect was issued by Islamabad. Indian Railway said that the train was stopped at Wagah border and arrangements were being made to bring the stranded passengers to India. “#Samjhautaexpress. Train will run. Train is being moved from Wagah and it will come to Attari,” said an official tweet from Indian railway ministry. Reuters quoted Pakistan Minister Sheikh Rasheed as saying, “We have decided to shut down Samjhauta Express,” he was further quoted suggesting the services will not be resumed any time soon, “As long as I am railways minister, Samjhauta Express can’t operate,” Reuters quoted Rasheed telling journalists. Samjhauta Express plies twice a week. Before Pakistan Minister’s tweet surfaced, Indian railway sources said, “Pakistan had raised some concerns with regards to security for crew and guard of the Samjhauta Express and they were told that the situation was normal on this side . However we are sending our own engine with our crew to bring train from Wagah to Attari.” Station master of Attari railway station close to border with Pakistan, Arvind Kunar Gupta said, “We got a message from Pakistan railways that the crew members and guards of Samjhauta Express refused to take the train into Indian territory. They allowed us to send our driver and staff to take the train from Wagah.” He added that a train engine from Amritsar was being sent for this purpose, “We have called a train engine, its driver and other staff members from Amritsar railway station. The staff will go to Wagah for bringing the train into India.” As per information, Samjhauta Express was stuck at Wagah railway station on the Pakistan side since 9:30 am. There are about 110 passengers on board the train stuck at Wagah and about 70 waiting to board the train to Pakistan on its return journey, said the railway source quoted above. The move comes after Indian Parliament okayed scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and dividing the state into two Union Territories. This was strongly criticised by Pakistan, which held a special session of its Parliament to condemn the issue and later decided to downgrade ties with New Delhi. Source: Hindustan Times