Pakistan suspends Samjhauta train service
August 08, 2019  14:11
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Pakistani authorities have suspended the Samjhauta Express train service between Pakistan and India until further notice, amidst tense bilateral ties in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir into two union territories. The train departs on Monday and Thursday from Lahore.


Pakistan has taken several steps against India --  including downgrading of diplomatic relations and suspension of bilateral trade -- to lodge its protest against New Delhi's move to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status. 


Islamabad also announced that its airspace would be partially closed to India, for a month.


Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan chaired a crucial meeting of the National Security Committee in Islamabad which was attended by the top civil and military leadership. 


After the meeting, Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that they will send India's High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria back to India.


The Samjhauta Express, named after the Hindi word for "agreement', comprises six sleeper coaches and an AC 3-tier coach. The train service was started on July 22, 1976 under the Shimla Agreement that settled the 1971 war between the two nations.


Pakistan had suspended the train service in February in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack by the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad.
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