New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS) India Monday resumed all bus and train services to Pakistan that were suspended after the assassination of former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto, except the Thar Express railway link between Munnabao in Rajasthan and Khokhrapar in Pakistan.
The Samjhauta Express resumed its services Monday afternoon, carrying about 250 people from Attari on the border to Lahore in Pakistan.
Those going across to Pakistan were mostly from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and were headed for Karachi.
The Samjhauta Express runs every Monday and Thursday, returning every Tuesday and Friday.
But, the Thar express, between Munabao-Khokrapar, remained suspended “on the advice of Pakistan railways”, said an external affairs ministry press communiqué.
While the train service had not been specifically targeted, there were reports of violence in Pakistan off the railway line in the aftermath of Bhutto’s assassination.
Following the suspension of the Thar Express, Pakistani passengers found themselves stranded in India, as most of their visa periods had come to an end or had only one or two days left.
“Instructions have been issued for extension of the visas of Pakistani nationals who were to travel on this service, by a week, if so required,” said a ministry note.
If any Pakistani national wants to return urgently, they can travel to Delhi to either cross the Attari border on foot or get a seat on the scheduled bus or train links. But, they will have to contact the foreigners regional registration office in Mumbai, Delhi, Amritsar, Jodhpur or Ahmedabad to change their visa to travel to Delhi or to get the necessary endorsement to cross the border on foot.
Besides, the ministry noted that the scheduled bus services between India and Pakistan – the Delhi-Lahore, Amritsar-Nankana Sahib and Amritsar-Lahore – are being resumed.
“Bus services between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalakot would also run as per their existing schedules,” it said.