NEW DELHI, APRIL 23: In order to enhance security mechanisms on two cross-border trains — Samjhauta Express and Thar Express — security agencies in India and Pakistan are mulling over introducing an Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) wherein both sides exchange passenger details prior to the arrival of these trains in their respective territories.

While Indian Railways have already started sharing the passenger manifest of both the trains with the security and immigration agencies at Attari and Munabao railway stations, they have also made a formal request to their Pakistani counterparts to do the same within their territory. But taking the idea a step further, both sides are now planning to exchange this information with each other, said sources. “This could help initiate a better screening mechanism with both sides getting to know exactly who all are travelling in a particular train,” an official said.

“Following the February 19 blasts on the Samjhauta Express, both the Attari Special and the Thar Express were made fully reserved trains. With no unreserved coaches, we now have complete passenger details from their ticket-reservation data a few hours prior to the train’s departure. This data is now being shared with security agencies at both the border stations,” a senior Rail Bhawan official told The Indian Express.

So, a few hours before the weekly Thar Express begins it's journey from Jodhpur to Munabao on Saturday evening, a detailed passenger manifest is transmitted to the security agencies at Munabao, where the train reaches on Sunday morning. “With details like this already available, immigration and security clearances take less time and there is lesser room for discrepancies,” a railway official said.