Amritsar, August 8: Hours after Pakistan announced to suspend Samjhauta Express, the train arrived at Attari Railway station in India on Thursday evening. Samjhauta Express was halted at the Wagah border after Pakistani crew members refused to enter India. Subsequently, Indian authorities sent an engine with a crew to Pakistan to bring the train. According to reports, there were 110 passengers on the train.

Earlier, speaking on the entire sequence of events, station master at Attari railway station told news agency ANI, “Services haven't stopped. Pakistan's driver and the guard refused to come to India. So they sent us a message to send engine with Indian crew and guard. They'll go with the engine and bring the train.” Deepak Kumar, a spokesperson of Northern Railways also clarified that Indian crew members were sent to bring the train as Pakistan expressed concern over the safety of its crew.

Video of The Train Arriving at Attari Railway Station:

However, on Thursday, Pakistan's Railway Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced that the government is permanently discontinuing the Samjhauta Express train service with India. Ahmed further added that the train will now be used for passengers travelling on the occasion of Eid. The announcement was made by Pakistan, a day after it downgraded diplomatic relations with India as the Narendra Modi Government scrapped the special status from Jammu and Kashmir. MEA Responds to Pakistan's 'Downgrading' of Bilateral Ties With India Over Article 370 Row, Says Move 'Not Surprising'.

The Samjhauta Express train service was suspended earlier this year after tension between the two countries escalated post Pulwama attack in which 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were martyred. The train runs twice a week from Lahore to Attari via the Wagah railway station.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 08, 2019 06:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).