LAHORE: The Delhi-bound Samjhota Express that was called back from the Wagah border to the Lahore Railway Station Thursday after Indian authorities cautioned their Pakistani counterparts of disruptive farmers protests in Indian Punjab will not be able to carry passengers to the Indian capital on Monday too, Pakistan Railways spokesman told Dawn on Saturday.

Railways spokesman Rauf Tahir claimed that the train carrying both Indian and Pakistani passengers cannot depart on Monday as Indian officials have warned that the farmers protest, which stopped the train on its way to Delhi on Thursday, will continue on Monday too.

Scheduled to move only twice a week, the train's departure has now been delayed till Thursday, said Tahir.

Earlier, it was announced that the train will leave Lahore on Monday (Oct 12) at its scheduled time.

Indian passengers whose visas to visit Pakistan have expired are now staying at the Pakistan Railways headquarters and have been provided certificates to validate their stay in Pakistan till the time the train departs for Delhi.

Related : Delhi-bound Samjhota sent back to Lahore from border

Foreign Office on Friday expressed concerns over the suspension of Samjhota Express operations and Indian Acting Deputy High Commissioner Raghuram was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to express concern over the matter.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office said that the government of Pakistan had taken all necessary steps to accommodate the stranded Indian passengers, who were not permitted to cross the border on Oct 8.

“We expect the Indian side to make utmost efforts to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future and facilitate travellers from Pakistan and India,” the Foreign Office added.

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