Pakistan and India Resume Cross-Border Bus Service After Four-Year Halt
The Lahore-Delhi bus service resumed after four years as Pakistan and India pursue a diplomatic thaw, with trade also restarting through the Wagah border crossing.
Lahore-Delhi Route Reopens Amid Broader Diplomatic Thaw
The Lahore-Delhi Sada-e-Sarhad bus service resumed operations on February 26, 2026, four years after it was suspended in 2022 amid heightened tensions over Kashmir. The first bus carrying 28 passengers departed Lahore's Wagah terminal at 6:00 a.m. local time, crossing into India at the Attari-Wagah border and arriving at Delhi's Ambedkar terminal 12 hours later.
Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that the resumption was agreed during a back-channel meeting between senior diplomats in Abu Dhabi in January. "Small steps build the confidence needed for larger steps," the spokesperson said.
Context of the Thaw
The bus resumption is one of several confidence-building measures between the nuclear-armed rivals since late 2025. Trade in certain goods resumed through the Wagah crossing in December, and both countries reinstated full diplomatic staff at their high commissions after operating with reduced personnel since 2019.
The diplomatic warming followed quiet facilitation by the UAE, whose leadership maintained relationships with both governments. Analysts noted that Pakistan's precarious economic situation and India's desire for a stable western border during heightened competition with China created mutual incentives for de-escalation.
Public Response
The first bus was greeted with flowers and sweets at both departure and arrival points. Pakistani passenger Amjad Khan, 67, said he had not seen his sister in Delhi since 2019. "This bus is not just transportation. It is a lifeline for divided families," Khan told reporters at Wagah.
On the Indian side, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government "welcomes people-to-people contact as a foundation for improved bilateral relations" but emphasized that "outstanding issues including cross-border terrorism must be addressed through sustained dialogue."
Limitations
The resumed service operates twice weekly, down from the pre-suspension schedule of four times weekly. Passengers require special visas issued through a separate bilateral protocol, and the route is limited to Pakistani and Indian nationals — no third-country passengers are permitted.
The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service across the Line of Control in Kashmir, suspended since 2019, has not been restored. India has conditioned its resumption on Pakistan demonstrating "verifiable steps against cross-border infiltration," a demand Pakistan characterizes as outside the scope of bus service negotiations.
Trade volume through Wagah remains a fraction of its 2018 peak of $2 billion, with current flows estimated at $450 million annually. Business chambers in both Lahore and Amritsar have called for restoration of the full trade basket, including textiles and agricultural products that remain restricted.
