ISLAMABAD: Federal Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Thursday announced that Pakistan had closed the Samjootha Express train service with India.
Addressing a press conference, Rasheed said the bogies of Samjhota Express will now be used for passengers travelling on the occasion of Eid.
The Samjhota Express train service was suspended earlier this year, due to escalating military tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Samjhota Express ran twice a week from Lahore to Attari via the Wagah railway station.
The move comes days after the Indian government stripped occupied Kashmir of its special autonomy.
India rushed through a presidential decree on Monday to abolish Article 370, which revoked the special status granted to occupied Kashmir and made the state a Union Territory with the legislature. The move followed days of uncertainty in the region that began last week when New Delhi ordered tourists and Hindu pilgrims to leave “immediately” and sent thousands of additional troops to the disputed valley.