&w=3840&q=100)
India-Pakistan tension: Beating Retreat resumes today at Attari, but without handshakes
A Pakistani Ranger and an Indian Border Security Force personnel perform during the 'Beating Retreat' ceremony at the border gates of Pakistan and India, at the Wagah border post near Lahore. Tensions between the nuclear-armed arch-rivals have soared since India accused Pakistan of backing a terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed in Pahalgam. AFP
India will resume the Beating Retreat ceremonies at Amritsar's Attari border and Ferozepur's Hussainiwala border on Tuesday, but it will not be conducted as it used to be before its suspension following the Pahalgam terror attack.
The scaled-down version of the ceremony will begin at 6 pm, and unlike before, the gates of the two sides will remain closed, and BSF jawans will not shake hands with Pakistani Rangers, Border Security Forces IG of the Punjab Frontier, Atul Fulzele, has said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The beating retreat ceremony has been a tradition between the two countries since 1959. According to protocol, both forces open the border gates each evening at the Attari-Wagah crossing, followed by a customary handshake. However, following the Pahalgam attack, the BSF opted to send a strong message by deviating from this practice.
CDS, Army review border situation
Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the situation along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan and Kutch. They also took stock of the air defence systems deployed in these regions under Operation Sindoor.
Gen Chauhan inspected the military facilities at Suratgarh and Naliya, while Gen Dwivedi visited Longewala and various forward positions overseen by the Army's 12 Konark Corps in the desert sector.
Last weekend, the Indian Army rejected reports from Pakistan that the ceasefire between the two countries was valid till May 18, saying that the understanding between the countries to stop military hostilities along the border is open-ended and is not bound by an 'expiry date'.
'As far as continuation of break in hostilities is concerned, as decided in DGMOs (directors general of military operations) interaction of May 12, there is no expiry date to it,' the army said in a statement.
On May 15, the Indian Army announced plans to implement 'confidence building measures' (CBMs) along the Pakistan border to 'reduce the alertness level,' shortly after Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that the May 10 ceasefire had been extended until May 18.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
21 minutes ago
- Time of India
China can pull back 150 km and come back in 2–3 hours: Indian Army officer suggests continued vigil along LAC
Even though there has been some positive movement in the Indo-China relations , Indian military planners are expected to remain on high alert on the ground even if a long-term de-escalation process with China begins in the coming months. 'The way China has built roads, bridges, tunnels and habitats along the entire LAC, from eastern Ladakh to Arunachal, over the last five years, PLA troops can easily afford to pull back 100–150 km and then come back again in 2–3 hours,' a senior Army officer told TOI. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has reportedly built extensive infrastructure along the LAC, enabling rapid redeployment to forward areas if required. PLA retains rapid mobilisation capability While some of the PLA's combined arms brigades (CABs) have pulled back approximately 100 km in recent months, many still remain forward deployed. These brigades are equipped with tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery, and surface-to-air missile systems. Each CAB consists of around 4,500 to 5,000 troops. In contrast, Indian forces do not possess the same mobilisation flexibility, which introduces a significant time gap in force readiness along the LAC. 'There is a huge time differential in mobilisation between the rival forces that will have to be factored in during any de-escalation talks,' the officer told TOI. Live Events Also Read: India tests Agni-5 missile with 5,000 km range: Here's all about the nuclear-capable missile that can cover Turkey to China Trust deficit persists despite stabilisation So far, India and China have only agreed to 'discuss de-escalation, beginning with the principles and modalities thereof.' This understanding was reached during Wang Yi's recent visit. On the ground, although the situation has stabilised since troop disengagement at Depsang and Demchok in October last year, the trust deficit between the two armies remains considerable. Both sides continue to be forward deployed along the 3,488-km-long LAC with heavy military assets. 'There is no disruption in the coordinated patrolling by the rival soldiers there. But we cannot let our guard down since there has been no let-up in the PLA's military preparedness and infrastructure build-up,' another senior Army officer said to TOI. New mechanisms to strengthen border management In order to support stability along the LAC, both countries are expanding their diplomatic and military border management mechanisms. Existing talks between the Indian 14 Corps commander and China's South Xinjiang Military District chief in Ladakh will now be complemented by 'general-level mechanisms' in the eastern (Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh) and middle (Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh) sectors as reported by TOI. From the Indian side, the middle sector is likely to involve the Lt-General commanding the Uttar Bharat Area based in Bareilly, which has been 'combatised.' In the eastern sector, the Dimapur-based 3 Corps or Tezpur-based 4 Corps are expected to be involved in the new structure. Patrolling rights restoration a key objective In eastern Ladakh, a key priority for India remains the restoration of patrolling rights in areas where 'no-patrol buffer zones' were established during previous disengagement rounds up to September 2022. These buffer zones, ranging from 3 km to 10 km, were created at Galwan, the north bank of Pangong Tso, the Kailash Range, and the larger Gogra-Hot Springs area. Initially framed as 'temporary moratoriums,' there has been no progress in lifting these restrictions, despite these areas being considered by India as part of its own territory. India-China to resume border trade These comments follow the recent decision to reopen border trade through three designated trading points: Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, Shipki La Pass in Himachal Pradesh, and Nathu La Pass in Sikkim. This development occurred during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to India earlier this week.
News18
26 minutes ago
- News18
China-Pakistan Ties Strong, Not Aimed At Any Third Party: Wang Yi In Islamabad
Wang Yi stresses strong China-Pakistan partnership and cooperation at the Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday reaffirmed the durability of Beijing's partnership with Islamabad, declaring that the relationship had 'withstood the test of time" and was not directed against any third country. Speaking in the Pakistani capital, Wang Yi said, 'China and Pakistan's partnership is not targeted at any third party. I have visited three countries, and Pakistan is the final stop. All countries in South Asia share history. China and South Asian countries are close neighbours, and we should accelerate development together." Wang Yi arrived in Islamabad on August 21 for a two-day visit at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. He is co-chairing the sixth Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue and meeting Pakistan's civil and military leadership to discuss bilateral relations as well as key regional and international issues. According to Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit is part of regular high-level exchanges aimed at deepening the 'All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership." Talks will focus on strengthening economic and trade cooperation, reaffirming support on core interests, and consolidating a joint commitment to regional peace, development and stability. In New Delhi, Wang Yi urged India and China to view each other as 'partners" rather than 'adversaries or threats." He also met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, marking only the second high-level meeting between the two sides since deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh in 2020. Describing relations as moving on a 'positive trend" towards cooperation, Wang Yi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also joined delegation-level talks with NSA Ajit Doval. 'We are happy to share that stability has now been restored at the borders," Wang Yi said, adding, 'The setbacks we faced in the last few years were not in our interest." view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
Indian Express
33 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Bombay HC allows Turkish firm Celebi to withdraw plea against revocation of security clearances
The Bombay High Court on Thursday allowed a subsidiary of Turkey-headquartered airport ground handling services major Celebi to withdraw its writ plea seeking suspension and annulment of the security clearance cancellation by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. The Bombay HC had earlier deferred the hearing, awaiting a verdict on an identical plea before the Delhi HC that had dismissed Celebi's plea last month. On July 7, the Delhi HC dismissed a writ petition by another Celebi subsidiary seeking suspension and annulment of the security clearance cancellation. The BCAS, amidst the backlash over Turkey's support for Pakistan in the India-Pakistan conflict, had, in May, revoked with immediate effect the security clearance of the Indian arm of Celebi, citing 'national security' reasons. The revocation led to airports in India, including Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai, where the Celebi group operated, terminating their contracts with the group companies, prompting the subsidiaries to approach the courts. The Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) had terminated the contract of Celebi's subsidiary — Celebi Nas Airport Services India, which operated at the airport. The Bombay HC Division Bench of Justices Burgess P Colabawalla and Firdosh P Pooniwalla has heard the writ plea by Celebi Nas against the revocation of security clearances. On Thursday, senior advocate Chetan Kapadia for Celebi Nas sought the court's leave to withdraw the said petition 'without prejudice to its rights and contention in law,' which the court accepted. Meanwhile, a Single Judge Bench of Justice Somasekhar Sundaresan of Bombay HC had last month, referring to the Delhi HC verdict, vacated the interim protection granted to Celebi Nas, which had restrained the MIAL from taking a final decision on tenders to replace the company's subsidiary until further orders.
