Pakistan summons Indian diplomat over Samjhauta Express cancellation

Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday summoned India's Acting Deputy High Commissioner and expressed concern over the cancellation of operation of Samjhauta Express due to farmer protest on the Indian side, leaving over 200 passengers from both countries stranded.

"The Acting Deputy High Commissioner of India, Mr (S) Raghuram was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Dr Mohammad Faisal, the Director General (South Asia), to express concern over the cancellation of operation of Samjhauta Express on October 8, 2015," a Pakistan Foreign Office statement said.

"The cancellation caused inconvenience to more than 200 passengers from Pakistan and India. The Government of Pakistan has taken all necessary steps to accommodate the stranded Indian passengers, who were not permitted to cross the border yesterday," it said.

About 200 Indian and Pakistani passengers of Samjhauta Express were yesterday stranded at the Wagah railway station for over five hours after Indian authorities apparently did not allow it to leave for Attari because of the farmers' protest on rail tracks in Punjab.

A Pakistan Railways spokesman said the Samjhauta Express, which ferries passengers from Pakistan on Mondays and Thursdays, would now leave for Attari on Monday.

"We expect the Indian side to make utmost efforts to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future and facilitate the travellers from Pakistan and India," the Foreign Office said.