India extends agreement with Pakistan for 3 years

NEWDELHI: India has extended an agreement with Pakistan linking the two countries through the Munabao- Khokhrapar rail line, the railways said on Tuesday. The extension comes at a time tension prevailed along the border in Jammu and Kashmir.

The agreement to link the two countries by rail was signed in 2006 to facilitate people-to-people contact, officials said. The agreement was set to expire in March 2018 but has now been extended to January 31, 2021.

The two sides currently have only two trans-border trains. The Samjhauta Express operates on the Delhi-Lahore route via the Attari-Wagah border crossing and carries both passengers and freight.

The Thar Express links Jodhpur and Karachi via the Munabao-Khokhrapar border crossing and carries only passengers.

The Munabao-Khokhrapar link was destroyed during the 1965 war between the two countries.

The service was revived after 41 years in February 2006.

‘SITUATION ALONG THE LOC VERY BAD’

JAMMU: There was an uproar in J&K assembly on Tuesday as members, including those from BJP and CPI(M), raised the issue of Pakistan shelling along

the LoC, forcing deputy CM Nirmal Singh to describe the situation as “very bad”. Singh said that administration has been directed to provide safe shelters and other facilities to people who have migrated from LoC area in Rajouri. “As a result of the shelling, migration has taken place,” he said.