Pakistan-India train service resumes as border tensions ease

A key train service with neighbouring India resumed and schools in Pakistani Kashmir opened Monday in another sign of easing tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals since a major escalation last week over the disputed Kashmir region.

Pakistan Railways spokespersonEjaz Shah says the train service, known as Samjhauta Express, left the eastern city of Lahore on Monday for India's border town of Atari, with some 180 passengers on board.

Pakistan suspended the train service last week as tensions escalated following India's airstrike on Tuesday inside Pakistan that India said targeted militants behind a Feb. 14 suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops.

Pakistan retaliated, shooting down a fighter jet the next day and detaining its pilot, who was returned to India two days later.

Also Monday, schools in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir opened after seven days of closure amid the heightened tensions.

Raja Jaleel, head teacher at a secondary school in Chakothi, which is close to the Line of Control border in the disputed region,said classes resumed but attendance was thin.

He lauded the courage of the students who attended, as many ofthe area's parents are keeping their children home for their safety.

"We have started our day with prayers for peace," said the headteacher, adding the students also chanted slogans in support ofthe army.

Eastern airspace still closed

Schools were closed when Indian and Pakistani troops were tradingfire across the Line of Control. At least eight civilians and twosoldiers have been killed in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir sincetensions soared following India's airstrike last Tuesday.

The reopening of schools on the Pakistani side of Kashmir and theresumption of the train service amid the lull in the crossfire forthe second consecutive day suggestthe two nuclear-armedrivals have heeded international calls to exercise restraint. ButPakistan hasn't yet opened its airspace for flights to or from the East.

Senior civil aviation official Aamir Mahboob said there was"no change yet in our aviation policy toward east, but the westcorridor is open for all flights."

After the suicide bombing on Feb 14 in the Pulwama district ofIndian-controlled Kashmir, Indian jets crossed into PakistaniKashmir and then into the Balakot section of Khyber Pakhtunkhwaprovince where they dropped bombs.

India claimed its jets struck themilitants behind the Pulwama attack. Pakistan denied any suchmilitant base existed in the area or that it was hit by jets. The next day, Pakistan shot down two Indian jets and detained a pilot who landedon the Pakistani side. He was handed back to India in a gesture ofpeace two days later.

Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since theirindependence from British rule in 1947. Both countries claim theterritory in its entirety and have fought two of their three warsover it. The rivals struck a ceasefire deal in 2003 but regularlytrade cross-border fire.