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Journalism of Courage
Stranded after the cancellation of the Samjhauta Express due to the rail roko agitiation launched by farmers in Punjab, 72 Indians have managed to return to India by the Wagah border road link. Official sources at the border said some Pakistanis who were similarly stranded in India had also returned to their country on foot.
But immigration officials manning the border were silent about the numbers. The cancellation of the cross-border train added to the already tense relations between both countries.
Pakistan had summoned the Indian deputy high commissioner in Islamabad after last Thursday’s train from Lahore was stopped at Wagah, stranding 200 passengers at the border town.
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Monday’s train was also cancelled. The only other time that the biweekly train has been cancelled was after the 2001 Parliament attack.
“I do not remember when it was cancelled last time. In my memory, it has not been canceled in last 15 years for any reasons,” said Madan, a Railways official at Attari.
An immigration official said the cancellation of train has created a new situation for both countries. “It is the first time when such a situation has developed. Otherwise, Samjhauta Express is a very sensitive train and every effort is made to clear the track for this train. A small disruption in train route directly affects relations between both countries,” said the official.
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