Pahalgam terror attack: India scales down BSF's ceremonial display at Attari
Amritsar: In the wake of the terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday said a calibrated decision has been taken to scale down the ceremonial display during the Retreat Ceremony, a daily military exercise that takes place before sunset, at Punjab's Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki borders along Pakistan.
On normal occasions, hundreds of spectators, comprising foreigners, gather to witness the first-of-its-kind iconic ceremony with electrifying effect on the boisterous audience on the borders of two countries mainly on the Attari-Wagah border near this holy town of Punjab.
Amidst tension between arch-rivals India and Pakistan high as New Delhi mounted a diplomatic offensive against Islamabad, blaming it for a deadly attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists, the BSF announced key changes that include suspension of the symbolic handshake of Indian Guard Commander with the counterpart Guard Commander and gates to remain closed during the ceremony.
'This step reflects India's serious concern over cross-border hostilities and reaffirms that peace and provocation cannot coexist,' the BSF Punjab Frontier said.
The beating retreat ceremony, comprising flag lowering and ceremonial drill has seen a military exercise and lowering of the national flags of both India and Pakistan just before dusk since 1959.
During the retreat ceremony on festivals such as Diwali, Eid and Independence Day, border forces of both India and Pakistan -- the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers -- exchanged sweets and greetings to mark the traditional bonhomie between both the forces.
On Thursday, there was a thin audience at the Attari border to witness the ceremony, along the Radcliffe Line border between India and Pakistan, in which border gates are closed for the night.
The joint check post (JCP), which comprises a gallery with a capacity to accommodate nearly 25,000 spectators to witness the flag-lowering ceremony, was closed for spectators in the first week of March 2020 owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The BSF had resumed the ceremony for public viewing with a limited audience of 300 after over a year and a half. The entry to the JCP gallery is on a first come, first served basis.
The Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post is some 30 km from Amritsar, while it is 22 km from Lahore in Pakistan.
India had chosen to skip the tradition in 2019 over growing incidents of ceasefire violations across the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
After the surgical strikes by Indian forces across the borders in September 2016, the BSF did not offer sweets to the Pakistan Rangers. India responded to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 by announcing that it would shut the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari in Amritsar along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab with immediate effect.
India also decided to suspend the Indus water treaty until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
11 minutes ago
- NDTV
Bangladesh Army Chief Meets Muhammad Yunus Along With Navy Chief
Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman and the Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hassan met Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's Government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Eid-ul-Azha. This comes a day after Mr Yunus announced that elections will be held in the country in the first half of April next year. The Army and Navy chiefs, along with their wives, met Prof Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna, said the Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. While it was described as a courtesy meeting on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, there is speculation over what was discussed, especially as the Army Chief said elections should be held by December. The Bangladesh Army in a post said, "On the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Adha, Chief of Army Staff General Wakar-uz-Zaman, SBP, OSP, SGP, psc, along with his spouse, paid a courtesy call on with the Hon'ble Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus today at the State Guest House Jamuna. During the meeting, they exchanged Eid greetings and conveyed wishes for mutual well-being." Chief of Army Staff Pays Eid Courtesy Call on with the Hon'ble Chief Advisor Dhaka, 07 June 2025 (Saturday): On the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Adha, Chief of Army Staff General Wakar-uz-Zaman, SBP, OSP, SGP, psc, along with his spouse, paid a courtesy call on with the Hon'ble… — Bangladesh Army (@BDArmyOfficial) June 7, 2025 Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the major political party, has reiterated that it wants elections by December and said April is not suitable for polls. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said April is not appropriate for the national elections in the country and added it was possible to hold the election in December, which would be best for the nation. Muhammad Yunus has been accused by critics of wanting to hold on to power without facing elections and without a political mandate. Earlier, the interim government had announced a vague timeline of December 2025 to June 2026. During his address to the nation on Friday, Mr Yunus announced elections will be held in the first half of April next year, effectively giving him another year in office.
India.com
22 minutes ago
- India.com
Condemn This So-Called Bangladesh Election...: Awami League Leader Rabbi Alam
Rabbi Alam, Chairman of Joy Bangla Brigade and vice president of Bangladesh Awami League, USA, has condemned the announcement of national election by the interim government of Bangladesh and maintained that Sheikh Hasina "is the duly elected Prime Minister" till 2029. In an interview with ANI, Alam slammed Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government of Bangladesh, for announcing that a national election would be held in the first half of April 2026. Sheikh Hasina, president of Awami League, was ousted from power in a student-led uprising in August last year. She fled to India, and an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Laureate, was formed. "As you know, Bangladesh went through was a false flag operation. The protest led by the students was hijacked by (people now in) the interim government headed by Dr Yunus," Rabbi Alam alleged. Rabbi Alam said "many false allegations, many false claims, empty promises" were made. He said the announcement of a national election is "like a lollipop being handed to a young child". Rabbi Alam said Bangladesh is to be run by a democratic form of government. "Our constitution is the core of the fundamentals of the nation and this constitution gives the rights. Sheikh Hasina is democratically elected. We will condemn this so-called election because, according to our constitution, Sheikh Hasina is the Prime Minister until 2029. People are the main powerhouse in a democratic form of government. People voted, elected Sheikh Hasina...," he said. "With a false flag operation, Dr Yunus robbed our democracy," he alleged. He expressed concern over the law and order situation in Bangladesh and blamed Muhammad Yunus. "We know that the country faced a heavy backlash. There are many incidents of rape, killing, arson, burning, fire. Lynching, mob justice is every day matter," he alleged. He also said that Dr Yunus "doesn't understand politics" and "is an economist". Bangladesh's interim government on Friday announced that the national election will be held in the first half of April 2026. "I am announcing to the countrymen today that the next national elections will be held sometime in the first half of April 2026. Based on this announcement, the Election Commission will provide you with a detailed roadmap for the elections in due course", said Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, in an address to the nation through state television, BTV, on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. Political parties in Bangladesh have expressed mixed reactions to the announcement of the national election.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Vijayawada marks Bakrid with prayers, festive spirit
1 2 Vijayawada: The city witnessed vibrant celebrations on the occasion of Eid-Al-Adha, also known as Bakrid, as thousands of Muslims gathered at major Eidgahs to offer prayers and participate in rituals with devotion and joy. Large congregations were seen at key prayer locations including the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium, Gymkhana Grounds, and Eidgahs in the old city. At the IGMC Stadium and Yanamalakuduru Eidgah alone, over 3,000 worshippers offered Namaz-e-Eid, marking the spirit of sacrifice and unity. Imams led the special prayers and delivered sermons explaining the significance of Eid-Al-Adha. "Bakrid is a festival that reminds us of the spirit of sacrifice and submission to the will of Allah. One must be willing to let go of worldly attachments and walk the spiritual path," they said. Special duas (prayers) were offered for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of the people of Andhra Pradesh and the nation. After prayers, Muslims embraced each other, exchanged greetings of "Eid Mubarak," and proceeded to perform the ritual of animal sacrifice, a key tradition of the festival. Families sacrificed goats and sheep as a symbol of devotion, sharing the meat with relatives, friends, and the poor. Voluntary organizations also stepped in to support underprivileged worshippers by distributing essentials such as rice, dal, and ghee after the prayers. Chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, his deputy Pawan Kalyan, HRD minister Nara Lokesh and opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy extended their heartfelt Bakrid greetings to the Muslim community, wishing for harmony and inclusive progress. The city police made elaborate security arrangements, particularly in the old city and One Town areas, ensuring peaceful and smooth celebrations by deploying additional forces.
