Pak suspends 'Samjhauta Express' amidst escalating tension with India

Islamabad: In retaliation to India's counter attack, demolishing Pakistan based terror groups, Pakistan, on Thursday, suspended cross-border train services of 'Samjhauta Express', according to a report.

The train, which connects Lahore in Pakistan and Atari and Delhi in India was scheduled to depart on February 28 at 8 am. The Pakistan Railway Ministry said the decision was taken to avert any untoward incident in light of heightened security concerns.

The Indian Railway Minister, Piyush Goyal, however, announced that India has no plans to suspend the service. "We have not yet received any instructions from authorities so far as running of Samjhauta Express is concerned. It will run as planned as per the schedule."

Tensions between the two countries mounted after the Pakistan based terror group, Jaish-e-Mohammad carried out a suicide bombing in Jammu and kashmir's Pulwama attack, on February 14, killing nearly 45 CRFP soldiers, following which India retaliated with an airstrike on its training camp in Balakot on February 26.

Later, both countries came face to face in an aerial confrontation in which one Pakistani F-16 jet and an IAF MiG-21 Bison were struck down.