Wagah/Attari, December 22
The ‘Sada-e-Sarhad’ (Lahore-Delhi bus) that started as a symbol of goodwill between India and Pakistan enjoyed shortlived accolades even as the Samjhauta Express was given the halt orders in the silver jubilee year of its historic run since 1976.

While 11 passengers of Delhi-Lahore cancelled visit to India at the eleventh hour, the “Sada-e-Sarhad” brought only 23 passengers from Lahore with fear writ large on their faces following heightened tension in the region.

Mohammad Sayyad (58), a resident of Lahore, said he took a great risk in boarding the bus as he wanted to attend the wedding of his close relative at New Delhi. “Had I viewed the news on television, I would have cancelled my visit.... Ab to Allah hi Malik hai (now all is in the hands of the Almighty). Like Mohammad Sayyad, his co-passengers too were unmindful of the snapping of road/rail links between the two countries. There was only one Indian, Mohammad Rehan, who said he had to cut short his visit due to apprehension of anti-India frenzy in Pakistan. The driver of the bus, Bhagat Singh, revealed that the Pakistan Government was inciting its people against India which was evident from loud sloganeering at the Flattis hotel at Lahore — the night halt of the bus.

The bus started from February 20, 1999, with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee himself travelling between Wagah and Lahore. His then Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif joined the ride as a goodwill gesture. However, any stress or strain between the two nations was evident from the fluctuating number of passengers travelling to and fro as also high and low tempers of citizens of both countries. It became a barometer of diplomatic ties with the hostile neighbouring country. However, few incidents did not go amiss. In the first month of its run, four Pakistanis were off-loaded. They were found carrying two ‘dumbas’ (lambs) and commercial goods. After the military coup in Pakistan on October 9 the same year, Pakistan passengers welcomed the toppling of the Sharif government who was instrumental in materialising the “bus diplomacy”. Two China-made nine mm pistols and several magazines were seized from a mother-son duo from the false bottom of a water cooler in May last year. The incident was reported as Pakistan’s dry run for an arms conduit. It also saw stone-throwing by Shiv Sainiks at Phagwara this year after the bombing of Buddha statues in Bamiyan (Afghanistan) by Pakistan-supported Taliban.

However, the golden coloured bus with capacity to seat 39 continued to have heavy booking till June this year. Consequently, a proposal to run two more buses and increase in fare was mooted. After September 11, attacks on the American towers witnessed a sudden drop in the number of passengers travelling by the bus.

The Samjhauta Express faced major ups and downs during its chequered history. It became a major suspect for contraband, narcotics, explosives, RDX and human terrorist cargo as also for large amount of counterfeit currency aimed at creating an economic crisis. The train is used by commoners as the middle class people and the elite travel by air or bus. The train saw anti-India frenzy in October’s stoning incidents following US attack on Afghanistan. High alert was sounded.