Pakistan has suspended the Lahore-Delhi friendship bus service, after suspending two cross-border trains, in the wake of India’s decision regarding Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcation of the State into two Union Territories, a senior Pakistani minister has said.
The bus service was first started in February 1999 but suspended after the 2001 Parliament attack. It was restarted in July 2003.
The move is in line with the decisions taken during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) held on August 7, Pakistan Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed said.
“In line with the decisions of NSC Pak-India bus service is suspended,” Mr. Saeed tweeted on August 9.
The Lahore-Delhi bus service is operated from Ambedkar Stadium terminal near Delhi Gate.
Pakistan Minister of Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad had announced on August 9 that Pakistan would suspend the Thar Express train service with India which links the two countries across the Rajasthan border, a day after it stopped the Samjhauta Express following its decision to downgrade bilateral ties.
Mr. Rasheed announced the suspension of the services of Thar Express and said that the last train would leave for India late on the night of August 9, the official APP news agency reported.
The Thar Express has been running between Jodhpur’s Bhagat ki Kothi station to Karachi every Friday night since services resumed on February 18, 2006 after a 41-year suspension.
He said the 133 km new track was built at a cost of ₹13 billion for Thar Express and now the track would be used for Thar coal project.
On August 8, Pakistan suspended the Samjhauta Express train service with India.
