Pakistan Suspends Sada-e-Sarhad Bus Service to India After Stopping Samjhauta And Thar Express Trains Over Article 370 Abrogation in Jammu and Kashmir
After announcing the suspension of Samjhauta Express and Thar Express train services, Pakistan on Friday suspended the bus service between Lahore and Delhi.
New Delhi/Islamabad, August 9: After announcing the suspension of Samjhauta Express and Thar Express train services, Pakistan on Friday suspended the bus service between Lahore and Delhi. Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said the Pakistan-India bus service, also known as Sada-e-Sarhad, has been suspended. The move comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan after New Delhi's decision to the special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
Earlier today, Pakistan announced the suspension of Thar Express train service that connects Jodhpur and Karachi. The announcement was made by Pakistan Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed at a press conference in Islamabad. Ahmed said that "after the Samjhauta Express, we have decided to shut down Thar Express", Radio Pakistan reported. Ahmed also said that he will visit "Azad Kashmir after Eid" and reiterated that "Pakistan does not want war with India".
On Thursday, Ahmad announced that the Pakistan government was permanently discontinuing the Samjhauta Express train service with India. The Samjhauta Express ran twice a week from Lahore to Attari via the Wagah railway station. Pakistan had stopped the Samjhauta Express at the Wagah border, citing security concerns, following which an Indian crew and guard escorted the train to Attari on the Indian side. Pakistan Suspends Samjhauta Express Services After Article 370 Abrogation From Jammu and Kashmir, But Says Work on Kartarpur Sahib Corridor Will Continue.
Pakistan on Wednesday announced its decision to downgrade diplomatic ties with India over New Delhi's move of revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and bifurcating the state. Pakistan also expelled the Indian High Commissioner and suspended bilateral trade with New Delhi.
India's President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday signed an order ending the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, a day after Parliament passed the resolution, along with a bill to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without a legislature.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 09, 2019 09:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).