JODHPUR: The release of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan had a direct impact on the number of passengers opting for the Thar Express . With just 45 tickets booked until a day ahead of its scheduled departure on Friday night, the number shot up to 256, which was 191 more than the passengers on board, in the previous round a week back.Of these 256 passengers, who boarded the train on Friday night, 176 were Pakistani nationals and 80 were Indian, who finally decided to travel to Pakistan with the fresh developments between the two nations leading to abatement of tension, amid the decision of Pakistan to release the IAF pilot. Interestingly, all the 65 passengers who had boarded the train last week, were all Pakistani nationals, who also had cut short their stay in India and considered it better to return to Pakistan amid the peaking tension and rumours of suspension of the train. Though, of these 256 passengers, many came to India from Pakistan to meet their relatives and decided to cut short their stay amid the spurt in tension between the two nations, but most of them were happy with the fresh developments and wanted the tension to subside.One of the passengers, not willing to be named, said that he wanted the relations between the two nations to be normal and stressed that both the nations should work in the direction of elimination of terrorism. “Both the nations have old relations. Many have cross-border relations and all of them want that issues of mutual concern are resolved and there are cordial relations among the people of both the nations,” he said.There were some, who were fearing suspension of the Thar Express after learning about suspension of the Samjhauta Express , but wanted this train to continue being allowed to ply. “Since this is the only train now to link the two countries, it has a great role in keeping the people from the two sides bound by relations. I wish that the train does not fall victim to the tension between India and Pakistan,” said the relative of a passenger, Abdul Wahab, outside the station.

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