86 stranded Indians cross Wagah border on foot

Passengers stand by an India-bound passenger train at Lahore railway station in eastern Pakistan’s Lahore on Oct. 8, 2015. Indian authorities on Thursday denied entry of the Samjhauta Express train at the Wagah border and turned it back over security concerns in light of an ongoing protest by farmers in Indian Punjab. (Xinhua/Sajjad)

Due to the deteriorating law and order situation in India, the Samjhota Express train which left from Pakistan was refused entry by the Indian railway authorities, causing eighty-six Indian passengers to make their way home by crossing the Wagah border on foot on Monday.

According to Pakistan Railways, the Samjhota Express left the Lahore railway station as scheduled with 86 passengers, including 25 women and 10 children, but after the Indian authorities didn’t accept the train into their territory, it returned to Lahore on Thursday, October 8.

Pakistan Railways’ Lahore Divisional Transportation Officer Shujat Hussain said officials from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad had contacted Pakistan Railways through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday morning about the status of their nationals. The officials from the high commission informed the Railways that the train might not enter India on Monday due to the security concerns in light of an ongoing protest by farmers in East Punjab. Thus, they arranged transport to shift all passengers and their luggage to Wagah from where they were to enter their country by crossing the border on foot.

About the future departures of the train, Mr. Hussain said that he hoped the issue would be resolved by Wednesday, as the dialog between the Indian High Commission officials and protestors was underway.

“If it remains unresolved, the train won’t depart for India on Thursday as well,” said Mr. Hussain, adding that Pakistan Railways took care of the Indian passengers and they were happy with the hospitality they received in Pakistan.