ID :
34420
Sun, 12/07/2008 - 18:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/34420
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Mumbai attacks: lesser Pak passengers on Samjhauta Express
Zishan Haider
New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) The number of Pakistanis
travelling to India on Samjhauta Express has sharply declined
in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.
The records of Indian Railways show that there is a sharp
decline in the number of passengers coming from Pakistan
through trans-national Samjhauta Express after the November 26
attacks in Mumbai.
The records show that during the first three weeks of
November, the occupancy of the Samjhauta Express coming to
Delhi from Pakistan was around 500 on every trip out of a
total capacity of 777. But after the terror strikes in India's
financial hub, the number started declining.
A day after the November 26 attacks in Mumbai, the
number of passengers coming from Pakistan stood at 334. The
number further slipped to 268 in the trip on December 2 and on
December 5 it was at lowest with just 250 passengers on board.
India has blamed the elements inside Pakistan for the
attack, a charge denied by Islamabad, which says New Delhi has
yet to offer any proof to support allegations that
Pakistani-based elements were behind the strikes.
However, the number of passengers going to Pakistan from
India has instead increased during the same period.
The number of passengers going to Pakistan were 489 on
November 26, which increased to 518 in next trip on November
30 and on December 3, 597 people travelled to Pakistan
through the bi-weekly trans-border train.
Railway officials believe that the attacks in Mumbai
could be a reason behind the decline in the number of Pakisani
passengers.
When asked from a Pakistani passenger who arrived here
this week, he said there is a "sense of fear". "People are
thinking what will happen next? They are scared to undertake a
journey by a train which too had been targeted in the past."
"But, we should not provide a chance to those who want
India and Pakistan to be at each other's throat. That's the
reason I'm here," he said, but refused to give his name.
Samjhauta Express was targeted by the terrorists in
February 2007. Sixty-seven people were charred to death and
several others injured when two powerful explosions ripped
through the two coaches of the Lahore-bound trans-national
train, about 10 km from Panipat.
New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) The number of Pakistanis
travelling to India on Samjhauta Express has sharply declined
in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.
The records of Indian Railways show that there is a sharp
decline in the number of passengers coming from Pakistan
through trans-national Samjhauta Express after the November 26
attacks in Mumbai.
The records show that during the first three weeks of
November, the occupancy of the Samjhauta Express coming to
Delhi from Pakistan was around 500 on every trip out of a
total capacity of 777. But after the terror strikes in India's
financial hub, the number started declining.
A day after the November 26 attacks in Mumbai, the
number of passengers coming from Pakistan stood at 334. The
number further slipped to 268 in the trip on December 2 and on
December 5 it was at lowest with just 250 passengers on board.
India has blamed the elements inside Pakistan for the
attack, a charge denied by Islamabad, which says New Delhi has
yet to offer any proof to support allegations that
Pakistani-based elements were behind the strikes.
However, the number of passengers going to Pakistan from
India has instead increased during the same period.
The number of passengers going to Pakistan were 489 on
November 26, which increased to 518 in next trip on November
30 and on December 3, 597 people travelled to Pakistan
through the bi-weekly trans-border train.
Railway officials believe that the attacks in Mumbai
could be a reason behind the decline in the number of Pakisani
passengers.
When asked from a Pakistani passenger who arrived here
this week, he said there is a "sense of fear". "People are
thinking what will happen next? They are scared to undertake a
journey by a train which too had been targeted in the past."
"But, we should not provide a chance to those who want
India and Pakistan to be at each other's throat. That's the
reason I'm here," he said, but refused to give his name.
Samjhauta Express was targeted by the terrorists in
February 2007. Sixty-seven people were charred to death and
several others injured when two powerful explosions ripped
through the two coaches of the Lahore-bound trans-national
train, about 10 km from Panipat.
