Following cancellation of Samjhauta Express between New Delhi and lahore due to farmers’ agitation in Punjab, both India and Pakistan have sought permission from each other to move out their people who are stranded on either side.
The Pakistan High Commission on Monday sought permission from India to move out its 40 passengers who are stranded in New Delhi. Pakistan officials said it is in talks with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to provide them visa to travel by bus. Incidentally, the Indian High Commission in Islamabad too had proposed a similar arrangement for its 20 citizens stranded on the other side of the border, to which Pakistan is yet to respond.
“Pakistan High Commission has taken up the matter with MEA for alternative transport arrangements for the stranded Pakistani passengers,” the Pakistan High Commission said in a statement. It added that already a list of 18 passengers has been forwarded to the MEA with a request that they can be given visa to travel by bus to return to Pakistan.
“High Commission of India in Islamabad has proposed to Government of Pakistan that the High Commission of India would like to organize transport at own cost for about 20 Indians stuck in lahore to take them to Wagah / Attari for their early return to India. Government of Pakistan’s clearance in this regard is awaited,” the MEA said in a statement.
Earlier, India denied allegations that the Samjhauta Express was “stopped” by India on October 8. “Samjhauta Express was among 75 trains travelling through Punjab that were cancelled due to local agitation, including rail blockade. Indian Railway authorities had informed in advance their Pakistani counterparts that the train would not be able to run in such a situation. A number of Indians scheduled to travel to India from Pakistan could not do so….MEA has requested Indian Railways to work with authorities concerned in Punjab to resolve the situation at the earliest, and put extra bogies for catering to stranded passengers on both sides for the next run of the train normally scheduled for 11-12/10”, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaup said.
Several trains were also affected due to the continued agitation by the farmers who have blocked the rail route between Delhi-Amritsar.