Visas, security key to success of Indo-Pak rail service

The success of India-Pakistan rail service, scheduled to resume on January 15, 2004, will depend two factors: visas and security.

The train Samjhauta Express plies between Lahore in Pakistan and Atari on the Indian border. The capacity of the train, when it used to ply earlier, was 400 passengers. However, it was never full because both countries issued only a small numbers of visas. Due to this reason, from a daily service, its frequency was reduced to two days of the week.

The train service was started in 1976 and it was made bi-weekly in May 1994. It was discontinued a few days after the December 13, 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament.

Also Read India, Pak rail service from January 15

There is a huge demand for tickets on the bus service that resumed in July 2003 and there are reports that the air services will begin soon.

"With the increase in transport facilities, the demand for visas will also go up. We hope both the governments will begin issuing more visas. Otherwise the train will run empty," a Railway Ministry official said.

The other important factor is security.

There were reports of large scale smuggling of narcotics through the train into India and also of militants using it to gain entry into India. These reasons also contributed to the decision to reduce its frequency.

An official who attended the two-day meeting of railway officials from both countries told rediff.com: "Pakistan was willing to start the train service from December 25 or January 1. But we pushed it to January 15. We want to put in place a strict security system before the service starts. We cannot take a chance."

Passengers travelling from Delhi will take a link train up to Atari where they shift to the Samjhauta Express to cross the border and head for Lahore. Law and order being the responsibility of the states, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab will ensure safety of the passengers along the route, the official said.

In addition to this, the Union Home Ministry will be involved in checking smuggling of narcotics and keeping an eye for possible terrorist activities.

The two countries will also permit the movement of freight trains. These trains generally carry beetle leaves and minerals from India and bring salt from Pakistan.