Pakistan's High Commission in New Delhi issued visas to six Indian Railways train drivers and a guard, clearing way for the thrice-a-week goods train to roll again after a week's break. The train had come to a halt at Attari station on December 22, after visas of 14 railwaymen ran out.
Indian railway officials here confirmed clearance of railwaymen's documents and said the train would leave for Lahore on Thursday. Some other applications for visas were, however, still pending with Pakistani authorities, they said, and hoped that they would be cleared soon.
Since stoppage of train service more than 1,500 wagons laden with dry fruit and cement have been stuck in Pakistan; over 2,000 wagons have been waiting to cross over on the Indian side. "Three drivers, three co-drivers and a guard have been granted visas. But four other applicants are yet to get their visas.
The train will resume from tomorrow onward," said Mangal Singh Sandhu, Assistant Traffic Manager, and Northern Railway. Sandhu declined to give details of any "diplomatic affairs" that might have had to be settled before the visas came through. "I can only confirm that with higher authorities taking up the issue with Pakistan, visas to the staff have been granted," he said. The suspension of the service hit traders hard.
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