Forget past for better relations: Pakistani Railway minister

Amritsar, May 19: Both India and Pakistan should forget the past for forging better ties in the larger interest of people of neighbouring countries, visiting Railway minister of Pakistan Ghulam Ahmad Bilour said on Friday, May 19.

"Both the nations should forget past for better relations in the larger interest of masses, since it would enormously help for fresh beginning of dialogue at the top level," he said after reaching here.

He further said that if both the nations forget past to initiate fresh beginning of dialogue, "This would certainly accelerate trade and create peaceful relationship on both sides."

Talking about the state of affairs of Pakistani Railway, he said that while India has developed remarkable rail infrastructure, his country was following the footsteps of its neighbour to expand its own rail infrastructure.

Favouring frequent visits of people on both sides to develop contact and to boost trade between India and Pakistan, Bilour said both the nations should grant maximum visas so that more people are able to visit.

When asked about the security of railway passengers in view of the volatile security situation in Pakistan, he said that passengers were secure and there was no threat to them at all.

He, however, expressed apprehension to his own life by saying that he was facing threat to his life from the fundamentalists in his country.

Earlier, he reached through the Samjhauta Express at the international Attari railway station on his personal visit to pay obeisance at holy shrine of Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan's Ajmer.

PTI