Pak gives in to India threat on bus service

NEW DELHI: Passengers of Delhi-Lahore “Sada-e-Sarhad ” bus service had a horrid time for nearly four months, thanks to Pakistan’s unilateral decision to withdraw security cover to Indian bus beyond the Wagah border forcing travellers to change the vehicle for Lahore . The practice continued till the home ministry, which surprisingly was unaware of the development, acted tough and threatened to do the same for Pakistani bus.

Amid threats of tit-for-tat action from the Indian side, Pakistan finally turned to earlier arrangement allowing security cover to Indian bus so that it can ply till Lahore similar to way India does for its neighbour’s bus till Delhi.

Sources said, the Delhi Transport Corporation’s bus to Lahore had stopped travelling to the Pakistani city since June after Pakistan authorities expressed their inability to provide security cover to it on their soil. The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) bus, however, continued its journey till Delhi under security cover provided by Indian agencies, they added.

When the matter came before the home ministry, it was conveyed to authorities in Pakistan that the security cover to PTDC bus will also be withdrawn in India. Pakistan authorities resumed the security cover to the Indian bus in their territory from October 15, leading to resumption of service till Lahore.