Pakistan on Thursday (28 February) suspended the cross border Samjhauta Express train, connecting Delhi and Atari in India with Lahore in Pakistan, amid escalating tensions between both countries, reports Times Now.
According to the report, the announcement by Islamabad comes a day after Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal announced that India has no plans to suspend the train.
“We have not yet received any instructions from authorities so far as running of Samjhauta Express. So it will run as planned as per the schedule,” said Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.
The suspension of the cross border train service has reportedly been done by the Pakistani authorities in wake of the prevailing situation between both countries.
“The decision to suspend the train service was taken to avert any untoward incident in light of heightened security concerns,” Additional General Manager of the Pakistan Railways was quoted in an India Today report as saying.
The train was scheduled to depart from Pakistan at 8 am with 16 passengers on Thursday (28 February).
Samjhauta Express is a bi-weekly train that runs on Wednesdays and Sundays between Delhi and Atari in India and Lahore in Pakistan.