ISLAMABAD, May 21 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - While Pakistan and India were working out modalities using diplomatic channels to start with the process of dialogue aimed at ending half a century old rivalries, railway officials on two sides have moved faster while deciding the operations of suspended train service would be expanded to eight destination in both countries, when it starts rolling.

Pakistan and India had severed all communications including road, rail and air links and recalled their ambassadors last year when military tensions between them were on the peak following a deadly attack on Indian Parliament which it blamed on Pakistan. While retracting their hostile acts of last year, governments on both sides announced peace overtures starting with Indian Prime Minister’s April 18 speech, Pakistan and India decided to open road, rail and air links as gesture of goodwill.

While opening of air links has been subjected by India to the resumption of process of dialogue at the official level, a senior Pakistan Railways officer said Tuesday, May 20, that the two sides have already decided to expand the reach of train service once resumed.

Samjhota (agreement) Express was running only between Lahore and Amritsar before it was suspended last year.

“We have agreed through communications with the Indian Railways official to expand this rail service to other cities also,” Junaid Qureshi Railways Superintendent told reporters in Multan on Monday, May 19.

He said the proposal has been granted by the two governments and when Samjhota starts it will be extended to Mulatn, Karachi, Hyderabad, Peshawar Quetta and Bahawalpur.

The Indian officials have agreed to allow the train to touch other cities deep inside India including Mumbai, Kolkota, Delhi and Hyderabad Dakkan, he added.

In the meantime, confusion was still persisting over the appointment of Pakistani ambassador to India as the Foreign Office did not notify Riaz Ahmed Khan for the post as announced by the Prime Minister.

Zafarullah Jamali, the Pakistani Prime Minister in an interview with an Indian television channel had announced last week that he has designated careers diplomat Riaz Ahmed Khan as Pakistani envoy to India. But the Foreign Office immediately issued a “clarification” saying Jamali was “misquoted” and that a decision on appointment was still to be made.

Pakistani Foreign Minister who was abroad when Jamali made the announcement, told reporters on Tuesday upon his return from the U.S., that five or six names were under consideration for the appointment and a decision was never made.

“We are not in a hurry and would take due course of time before deciding the crucial decision,” he told a group of reporter at his office.

Sources in the Foreign Office said Foreign Minister and other senior members of the foreign policy making body have advised against the appointment of Khan who is posted in Beijing as ambassador to China.

These officials have said premature removal of Khan from China may undermine friendly relations with China who is considered the most trusted friend of Pakistan.

On the other hand, the government wants to be ultra cautious while making an appointment to Delhi which is considered the most difficult post for a Pakistani diplomat in the face of nature of bilateral relations with India.