LAHORE: India on Thursday denied entry to the Samjhauta Express at the Wagah border and turned it back over security concerns in light of an ongoing protest by farmers in Indian Punjab.

Sources say that railway officials will issue certificates to allow the Indian nationals, whose visas to visit Pakistan are set to expire, to extend their stay in the country till Monday.

The certificates are being issued as part of special arrangements to facilitate the Indian visitors who have had to stay back due to the calling back of the train

Earlier, Pakistan Railways spokesman said the train carrying 193 passengers both Indian and Pakistani nationals was stopped upon reaching the Wagah border and 57 Pakistani passengers were requested to offload from the train.

A local daily quoting the stationmaster at Wagah said there were 215 passengers on board.

Indian farmers demanding compensation for the destruction of their cotton crop by whitefly have stopped a number of trains in Indian Punjab in protest, the Hindustan Times reported. A senior journalist said the disruptions have made train movements uncertain, and Pakistani passengers who cross the border may experience difficulty reaching their destination, Indian security agencies had cautioned.