The India-bound Thar Express reached Zero Point on Saturday departed after departing from Mirpurkhas after escalating tensions between Pakistan and India put the future of the train service in jeopardy.
According to railway officials, Thar Express departed from Mirpurkhas on schedule carrying 589 passengers travelling to India.
The Thar Express runs between Jodhpur in India and Karachi in Pakistan.
The train halts at the Zero Point railway station in Pakistan and at Munabao railway station in India for completing the immigration formalities and customs checks.
The train departed on Friday on its usual time from India.
“As per our information the status quo maintained and the train will run as per schedule. It will chug off from Jodhpur at 1am (IST) Till 7:30pm (IST). 250 passengers had booked their tickets to Pakistan,” chief public officer of the North Western Railway zone said.
“The booking remained opened till 8pm (IST) and we are expecting a rise in the number of passengers,” an officer with the Jodhpur division added.
On Thursday, Pakistan authorities suspended operations of the Samjotha Express in wake of rising tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.
Tensions between Pakistan and India have been high following the Pulwama attack in occupied Kashmir. India without any proof blamed Pakistan for harbouring militants behind the attack.
On Tuesday, Indian planes violated the Line of Control (LoC) and were forced to return owing to the timely response of the Pakistan Air Force.
Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed it had shot down two Indian aircraft which had crossed over the LoC and taken one Indian pilot into custody, who was released on Friday.
