Synopsis
In response to the Pahalgam terror attack, the BSF announced a reduction in the ceremonial display at the Retreat Ceremony held at the Attari border, highlighting India's concerns over cross-border tensions. The traditional handshake and public access have been suspended as a reflection of the current security climate.Key Takeaways
- BSF scales down ceremony at Attari due to terror attack.
- Suspension of handshake during Retreat Ceremony.
- Tensions between India and Pakistan escalate.
- Limited audience allowed for the ceremony.
- Closure of the ICP at Attari announced.
Amritsar, April 24 (NationPress) Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the Border Security Force (BSF) announced on Thursday a measured decision to diminish the ceremonial display during the Retreat Ceremony, a daily military event held before sunset, at Punjab's Attari, Hussainiwala, and Sadki borders adjacent to Pakistan.
Under normal circumstances, hundreds of onlookers, including international visitors, gather to experience this unique ceremony, which has a dynamic impact on the lively audience at the borders of both nations, particularly at the Attari-Wagah border near this revered town in Punjab.
In light of escalating tensions between long-standing rivals India and Pakistan, especially after New Delhi intensified its diplomatic efforts against Islamabad, blaming it for a devastating attack that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, primarily tourists, the BSF revealed significant alterations. These changes include the cessation of the traditional handshake between the Indian Guard Commander and his counterpart, with gates remaining closed throughout the ceremony.
“This action demonstrates India’s profound concern regarding cross-border aggression and reinforces that peace and provocation cannot exist harmoniously,” stated the BSF Punjab Frontier.
The beating retreat ceremony, which features the lowering of flags and ceremonial drills, has been a military tradition since 1959, marking the lowering of the national flags of both nations just before nightfall.
During festive occasions such as Diwali, Eid, and Independence Day, the border forces of India and Pakistan—the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers—traditionally exchanged sweets and greetings, symbolizing camaraderie between the two forces.
On Thursday, the audience at the Attari border was sparse for the ceremony along the Radcliffe Line border, where border gates are secured for the night.
The joint check post (JCP), which features a gallery with a capacity for approximately 25,000 spectators to observe the flag-lowering ceremony, has been closed to the public since early March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The BSF resumed the ceremony for public attendance with a limited audience of 300 after more than eighteen months. Access to the JCP gallery is granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post is located about 30 km from Amritsar and 22 km from Lahore in Pakistan.
India had opted to forgo this tradition in 2019 amid increasing incidents of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
Following the surgical strikes by Indian forces across the border in September 2016, the BSF ceased the tradition of offering sweets to the Pakistan Rangers. In response to the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, India announced the immediate closure of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari in Amritsar along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab.
India has also decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty until Pakistan reliably and irrevocably renounces its support for cross-border terrorism.
