Pak seeks ‘Samjhauta Express’ investigation report from India

ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan government has asked India to inform it about developments in the investigations into the 2007 Samjhauta Express bombings.

“Acting Deputy High Commissioner of India G.V. Srinivas was called to the Foreign Office by Director General (South Asia) Afrasiab on Monday. His attention was drawn to the recent reports in the media on the investigations into the Samjhauta Express blasts of February 2007,” the Daily Times quoted a Foreign Office statement, as saying.

“It was reiterated to him that the government of Pakistan was awaiting the progress made in the investigations. It was also underlined to Srinivas that a response from the Indian government may be conveyed at the earliest,” the statement added.

The bombings were a terrorist attack that occurred around midnight on February 18, 2007, on the train service connecting New Delhi and Lahore.

Bombs were set off in two carriages, both filled with passengers, just after the train passed Diwana station near Panipat, 80 kilometres north of New Delhi.

Sixty-eight people were killed in the ensuing fire and dozens more were injured.

Of the 68 fatalities, most were Pakistani civilians, but the victims included some Indian civilians and Indian military personnel guarding the train.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said that India must double its efforts to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice.

“We hope that no further time will be squandered in bringing the criminals to justice,” Basit said. (ANI)