Attari (Amritsar), December 31
The Samjhauta Express, the only train link between India and Pakistan chugged out on its last journey today amidst emotional upsurge with hundreds passengers praying that India should reverse its decision and allow the train to continue. Meanwhile the Indian government has not yet announced the stopping of trade relations with Pakistan. A senior customs officer said that the train would continue to take export cargo to Lahore and there would be regular interchange of wagons at least twice a week.

Nargis Begum of New Delhi who had to cut short of her visit to Rawalpindi said none had the right to cancel the train. She said that her parents lived in Pakistan and had gone there to attend the marriage of her niece but had to go back as the joy of marriage was turned into sadness.

This sentiment was echoed by 1700 Pakistani and Indian nationals who reached the station for a journey to Lahore and Delhi respectively. Angry with events after the December 13 attack on Indian Parliament Sheikh Afis Ali said that it was madness to create needless tension. He added it was the common man who would be the worst effected by the war cries.

Angry Rehana Saeed said that “aag lago do jinhone yeh gaadi bandh ki hai” (destroy those who have cancelled the train). She said that the train was poor people’s only transport link and that too have come to a halt and wondered when they would be able to meet their near and dear ones.

A large number of Indian and Pakistan nationals had to cut short as visits they had gone to meet relations and attend weddings. They were shocked at the turn of events.

The Samjhauta Express a bilateral agreement between the Railways of India and Pakistan came into effect in 1976 and started tri-weekly service between Lahore and Amritsar. The train was cancelled for a short while an 1992 due to Babri Masjid demolition and after a brief interruption for a fortnight the train started on bi-weekly basis. In the morning the train from Delhi with about 900 passengers arrived here for their onward last journey to Pakistan.

Saeed Ahmad a resident of Rawalpindi who along with family had gone to visit relations in Mumbai said that the cancellation of the train and the military build-up has been done “in view of the coming Uttar Pradesh elections”.

A Hindu family from Sindh whose head Sham Kumar said he has decided to settle in Indore in view of uncertainty in Pakistan as the minorities were feeling the heat due to rising tensions between the countries. Cancellations of train and bus services were other reasons. Sham Kumar said that he had brought his ailing younger brother Suresh Lal for treatment as the medical services were not only inadequate but were out of reach for the poor.