Last Thursday saw a monumental breakthrough in links between Pakistan and India. The popular Samjhauta (Friendship) Express arrived in the border station of Attari, India from the Pakistani city of Lahore, marking the resumption of rail links between the two nuclear rivals after a gap of two years.
The two countries broke off most ties in 2001 after India blamed Pakistan for involvement in an armed attack on the federal parliament in Delhi
Today, that same service was hit with tragedy when two homemade bombs exploded on board killing at least 65 passengers. Television pictures showed one large plastic suitcase with wires and a plastic bottle attached. Another suitcase was stuffed with plastic bottles, which officials said contained some kind of flammable liquid, possibly petrol or kerosene.
Police said that although the explosions were relatively small, the apparent intention had been to cause a deadly fire on at least four of the trains coaches.
Most of the victims were Pakistanis but included some Indians, officials said. They described the attack as an apparent attempt to undermine the peace process between the nuclear-armed rivals.
Pakistan demanded that India act to catch those responsible for what both governments said was a terrorist act.
The blasts happened a day before Pakistan's Foreign Minister was due in Delhi for talks with Indian leaders.
The minister, Khurshid Kasuri, said the explosion was a "horrendous act of terrorism" but it would not change his plans to visit India from 20 to 23 February.
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