After Pakistan, Indian Railways Cancels Samjhauta Express

The news of India revoking Article 370 (granting the state special status) in Jammu and Kashmir came as a shock to everyone due to its sudden nature. In this move, India&rsquos government split Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh into two union territories, the former with a legislature and the latter without. Tensions have been on the rise between India and Pakistan since Kashmir has been a disputed area for years. In retaliation to the scrapping of the special status in Kashmir, Pakistan cancelled Samjhauta Express, a weekly train connecting Delhi and Attari and a counterpart connecting Lahore and Attari. Two days post this decision, India has also decided to cancel the services from their end. 

Those who have already bought a ticket may ask for a full refund, reassured Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, the Federal Minister for Railways in Pakistan. The last train arrived in Delhi nearly five hours late on Friday, August 9. In addition to Samjhauta Express, Pakistan has also cancelled Thar Link Express, a weekly train connecting Khokhrapar in Pakistan and Munabao in India.  The suspension of these services will hinder person to person contact between the two countries.