Samjhota Express to resume operations on Monday: Sheikh Rashid

Published March 2, 2019
Railways minister appreciates railways' performance over past week. — APP/File
Railways minister appreciates railways' performance over past week. — APP/File

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid on Saturday announced that the Samjhota Express train service between Pakistan and India will resume operations on Monday, March 04.

Addressing the media in Lahore, Rashid said that the service will resume on Monday and continue as per schedule.

On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had announced the suspension of Samjhota Express operations in light of the prevailing tensions with India. The train service runs twice a week (Monday and Thursday) from Lahore to Attari via the Wagah railway station.

The railways minister also appreciated his department's performance over the past week. "When [Pakistan's] airspace was shut down, the railways department took on 25 per cent more load to make up for the deficits."

Security arrangements across Pakistan had been tightened in light of tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Flight operations were suspended when the Pakistani airspace was closed to commercial flights early on Wednesday. Operations have since been partially revived at the Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta airports.

Tensions between the neighbouring countries escalated after Indian aircraft violated Pakistan's airspace on Tuesday. The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had "immediately scrambled" and the Indian planes were forced to return. A day later, the PAF undertook strikes across the Line of Control from Pakistani airspace, following which two Indian aircrafts violated the LoC again and were shot down by the PAF.

The civil and military leadership of Pakistan has urged India to de-escalate tensions while emphasising its right to respond to Indian aggression. Analysts had expected the situation to de-escalate on Friday evening as Prime Minister Imran Khan released a captured Indian pilot, in an overture towards New Delhi, but the situation remains tense.

Editorial

Shocking ambush
13 Mar, 2025

Shocking ambush

The sophistication of attack indicates that separatists likely had support from experienced external players.
Suffocating crisis
13 Mar, 2025

Suffocating crisis

THREE of the five countries with the most polluted air on Earth are in South Asia. They include Pakistan, which has...
Captive grid
13 Mar, 2025

Captive grid

IT is a common practice: the government makes commitments with global lenders for their money and then tries to...
State Bank’s caution
Updated 12 Mar, 2025

State Bank’s caution

Easing monetary policy will be difficult for SBP without large, sustainable foreign capital inflows and structural tax reforms.
Syria massacre
12 Mar, 2025

Syria massacre

THERE were valid fears of sectarian and religious bloodshed when anti-Assad militants triumphantly marched into...
Too little, too late
12 Mar, 2025

Too little, too late

WHEN desperation reaches a point that a father has to end his life to save his daughter’s, the state has failed ...