Pak visa denial for Indian drivers hits freight trains

NEW DELHI/AMRITSAR: As the Indo-Pak freight train service comes to a halt, thanks to Pakistan dilly-dallying in issuing visa to Indian train drivers, New Delhi on Friday said the matter has already been taken up with Islamabad. The last round trip was made by the train on December 22.

Official sources confirmed to ToI that the government has conveyed to Pakistan that expediting visas for train drivers is in the interest of both the nations.

The government said the service cannot be resumed till all 14 Indian drivers get their visa renewed. Many of these drivers' visas expired in November, but Pakistan has not yet renewed these.

"We don't think this is a very serious issue yet because Pakistan has not said it will not issue visas. However, there has been a delay because of which the service has been hit. We have taken up the matter with them. We are hopeful things will be back to normal very soon," said a source speaking on behalf of the government.

The drivers, according to Indian authorities, had applied for visa well in time. Pakistani officials have said the visas are being processed and there is no indication yet that Islamabad wants to put an end to the service altogether. Trains laden with goods have remained stuck at the Attari-Wagah border since December 23.

The move has created panic among importers, who have goods including cement, dry dates, rock salt and herbs gathering dust in Pakistan. Exporters, too, are in a fix.

"Traders are facing losses worth crores. Winter has led to a rise in demand for dry dates. But, our stocks are piling up at Wagah. Cement from Pakistan has high demand in India, but traders are incurring losses as they are not being able to fulfill their commitments in the domestic market. Similarly, red chillies and spices, which account for a big chunk of exports to Pakistan, cannot be sent to Pakistan due to the crisis," said Anil Mehra, a local exporter.

Sources said, the supply of onions and other vegetables from Pakistan is not going to be affected as these are being brought by road. The goods train runs thrice a week between the two countries on the Samjhauta Express route. The service has been the subject of much controversy this year, since at least twice the authorities have seized heroin and fake currency from an India-bound train.