A tense border, a flurry of intelligence alerts from foreign agencies, a hijack alert or an explosion abroad on Air India flight between New Delhi and Kabul, a warning over use of sea route by militants and terrorists to target hinter land opens up a scenario of some big event is going to take place. Amidst all these speculations the much publicised India-Pakistan friendship bus ‘Dosti’ service too has been curtailed up to Wagah border post from both the sides. The cancellation of the bus service is the latest in the threat bracket ahead of US President Barack Obama’s New Delhi visit slated for 26th January as the Guest of the Nation for the Republic Day celebrations. The bus service officially known as Sada-e-Sarhad (Call of the Frontier) was of symbolic importance to the efforts of the governments of both nations to foster peaceful and friendly relations. In its inaugural run on 19th February, 1999, the bus carried the then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who was to attend a summit in Lahore and was received by his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif at Wagah. Officially launching its services on 16th March same year, the bus service was not halted even after the outbreak of the Kargil War. The bus service was halted in the aftermath of the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, which led to a serious confrontation between the two neighbours. The bus service launch was a key element in the efforts of the Indian and Pakistani Governments to improve frosty and tense relations with Pakistan, especially in the aftermath of the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests and the immediate Pakistani response of the Chaghai Hills tests. Despite suspension due to bilateral tensions, the Delhi-Lahore bus remains a symbol of desired friendship between the two nations. Since its inception, the bus has frequently carried trade delegations, diplomats and celebrities to both nations, attracting much media coverage. In lieu of the Indian national cricket team’s tour of Pakistan in 2004, the Pakistani Government permitted 10,000 Indians to travel to watch the cricket matches in Lahore; many of whom travelled via the bus amidst great fanfare at the border; the gesture was reciprocated the following year when the Pakistan national cricket team toured India. Now with the prevailing security scenario the suspension of the bus service is seen as a move to thwart any attempts by the Pakistan supported militants to carry out any misadventure.
