Talks on to restore second rail link

Pakistani and Indian railway officials began two days of talks here yesterday on reopening a second rail link between the two countries.

The rail link was severed 39 years ago when the two rivals fought a war over the disputed Himalayan state of Kashmir.

Before the start of the negotiations on restoring the link between Munabao in India and Pakistani southern Pakistani town of Khokrapar, leader of the host country's delegation said he expected a positive outcome from the meeting.

Rahim Chaudhry, who is secretary of Pakistan Railway Board, told reporters the delegations would hopefully reach an agreement for the betterment of the people of the two countries, particularly the divided families.

The Indian team at the meeting, which is part of the dialogue process started by the neighbours early this year to resolve all outstanding issues, is being led by senior railway ministry official L.R. Thapar.

Chaudhry said a breakthrough in talks was likely. In January, a train service between the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore and the Indian border town of Atari was restored after remaining suspended for two years. A bus service between Lahore and New Delhi is also being run and talks on operating another between two parts of Kashmir are expected this month.

Chaudhry said the Munabao-Khokrapar link would have no commercial value and it was primarily aimed at reuniting divided families in Pakistan and India and improving bilateral relations.

"There is no financial return on this, but it is just a good gesture, a sort of a gift from one country to another to bring the divided families together."

Sources said the Pakistani delegation had told the Indian guests that the dilapidated rail track on the Pakistani side would have to be rebuilt and the country also had a plan to convert the existing narrow gauge into broad gauge line.

The Indian side has proposed that visa offices should be set up at respective railway stations for the convenience of travellers once the link is revived, the sources said.

The train service along the 10-km route between Khokhrapar and Munabao was suspended in September 1965 when the two countries went to war over Kashmir.

The talks are part of a step-by-step peace process begun in January, with officials and politicians discussing various major sticking points.

Kashmir has sparked two of the three wars between the neighbours.