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India-Pakistan express train link remains canceled

Xinhua, October 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

India said on Saturday that the Samjhauta Express train link was cancelled for the second time, allegedly due to rail blockade by the agitating farmers of Punjab state which has paralyzed train operations.

The Delhi-Attari Express scheduled to leave the Old Delhi station on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 will remain canceled, said a Northern Railway statement here, adding that Lahore-Attari and Attari-Lahore Samjhauta Express will remain cancelled on Oct. 12.

Attari is an Indian border town in Punjab between India and Pakistan which serves as a transit for the international passengers.

The rail route between Delhi-Amritsar has been blocked by the farmers, who have been agitating against the Punjab government over failed cotton crops due to the white-fly attack, according to Press Trust of India.

Over 200 Indian and Pakistani passengers of Samjhauta Express have been stranded since Friday at the Wagah railway station on the Pakistan side of the border for over five hours after the train was not allowed to leave for Attari.

Pakistan has protested the alleged deliberate blocking of the train by India. India denied the allegation.

The trans-border train came under arson attack by Hindu extremists in 2007, leading to the deaths of dozens of passengers, mainly Pakistanis.

Pakistan has urged India to put to legal punishment of the accused in the arson attack. Endi