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Pakistan plane to take back injured

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in the history of the two countries, Pakistan will send a military C-130 transporter on a peace-time mission to India on Thursday to bring back the dead and wounded in the Samjhauta Express attack.

And for the first time too, a Pakistan Air Force pilot will fly into Indian territory with a valid visa.

The American-made transport aircraft is scheduled to land in New Delhi early in the afternoon, officials said. With it will go doctors, medical staff and medical supplies. It is expected to return the same day. Initially, Pakistan wanted to operate five flights, but considering the size of the aircraft, and the number of injured Pakistani people and dead bodies that now remain in India, it was decided to scale it down to just one flight.

The Indian High Commission's emergency visa camp at Lahore had issued 69 visas by Wednesday night. The camp was meant for three days to start with, but the Pakistan Foreign Ministry has permitted it to continue for three more days.

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