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New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tourist footfall drops at Attari-Wagah border, Golden Temple after Pahalgam terror attack
AMRITSAR: In the wake of the that killed 26 tourists and rising diplomatic tensions with Pakistan, footfall at the Attari-Wagah border retreat ceremony has dropped by 50%. Tourist numbers at the Golden Temple have also declined by over 20%. Sources said the spectator gallery at the Attari border has a capacity of 25,000. On weekdays, the average footfall is around 20,000, while weekends usually see a full house. However, on Thursday and Friday, only about 10,000 visitors turned up to watch the BSF parade — marking a 50% drop, confirmed by BSF officials familiar with the matter. A senior Border Security Force (BSF) officer said that following the recent tragic attack in Pahalgam, a calibrated decision was taken to scale down the ceremonial display at the Attari border during the Beating Retreat ceremony. 'The key changes include suspension of the symbolic handshake between the Indian Guard Commander and his counterpart, and the gates will remain closed during the ceremony,' the officer said. Tourists at Attari shouted slogans like 'Hindustan Zindabad,' 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai,' and 'Vande Mataram,' waving national flags and with the tricolour painted on their faces. A visitor said he found the ceremony to be full of patriotic spirit and that it was his first time witnessing it. 'We have come here to support our soldiers who are securing our borders by risking their lives,' said another tourist. Meanwhile, the daily footfall at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, which usually sees around 1.25 lakh devotees, has dropped to an estimated 75,000 to 80,000 per day over the past two days. 'There has been a decline of at least 30 per cent in room occupancy at the inns (sarais) of the Golden Temple, and bookings for the weekend are also very thin,' said an official of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). A leading hotelier in Amritsar added that more than 50 per cent of hotel bookings were cancelled following the terror attack in Pahalgam, with many tourists now seeking refunds. 'After the Pahalgam incident, tourists have diverted to Himachal Pradesh,' he said.
NDTV
24-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
India's 7 Big Steps Against Pak After Pahalgam Terror Attack
New Delhi: India has taken seven steps against Pakistan following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26. The government yesterday announced five steps after discussing cross-border linkages of the attack, and two more actions today. Steps that India took against Pakistan over terror attack India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 with immediate effect. The government said it will remain suspended unless Pakistan credibly and irrevocably stops support for cross-border terrorism. The integrated check post Attari was closed on Wednesday. People who crossed over with endorsements are allowed to return through that route before May 1. The government no longer allowed Pakistani nationals to travel to India under the SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES) visas. SVES visas issued earlier to Pakistani nationals were cancelled. And all Pakistanis holding SVES visas were told to leave India in 48 hours. The defence/military, naval and air advisors in the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi were declared persona non grata, and given a week to leave the country. India also announced it would withdraw its defence staff from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. India said it would bring down the overall strength of the High Commissions to 30 from the present 55 through further reductions, to be done by May 1. The government today suspended visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect. It told all Pakistani nationals to leave India by April 27. However, those who hold medical visas can stay only till April 29. The Border Security Force (BSF) took a calibrated decision to scale down the ceremonial display during the Retreat Ceremony at Attari, Hussainiwala, and Sadki in Punjab. The key changes include suspension of the symbolic handshake of the Indian Guard Commander with the counterpart Guard Commander. The gates will 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 said.
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First Post
24-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
'No handshake with Pak commander:' Beating Retreat Ceremony scaled down amid calls of suspension
The move by BSF comes at a time when calls are growing louder on social media asking the Indian government to suspend the ceremony altogether read more India's Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday (April 24) significantly scaled down the Beating Retreat ceremony at the Attari–Wagah Border. The move, taken in view of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed, comes a day after India ordered the shutdown of the Attari border. The Beating Retreat ceremony is a daily event that the security forces of India (Border Security Force) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) have jointly followed since 1959. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The BSF in a statement said a calibrated decision has been taken to scale down the ceremony. It said the symbolic handshake between the Indian Guard Commander and their Pakistani counterparts has been suspended now. Also, the gates of the crossing will now remain closed during the ceremony. The BSF stated, 'The key changes 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 statement added. Earlier, several media reports signalled that New Delhi may suspend the ceremony in view of the terror attack. The move by BSF comes at a time when calls are growing louder on social media asking the Indian government to suspend the ceremony altogether. One user wrote on X, 'For Godsake, end this beating retreat ceremony at Wagah-Attari border NOW! This is a mockery of not just the Indian Security Forces who have laid down life for the nation fighting Pakistani terrorists, but also civilians brutally killed by Pakistan deep state.' A second user wrote: 'This Beating Retreat ceremony at Wagah Border should be stopped. There's no need for celebration or showmanship at a border where tension and loss have existed for decades.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
No handshakes with Pakistan at border retreat ceremonies, says BSF
The Border Security Force (BSF) announced Thursday that the retreat ceremony at Attari, Hussainiwala, and Sadki borders with Pakistan in Punjab will continue to take place, but in a scaled-down manner. In a statement on its account on X, BSF said that in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, a 'calibrated decision has been taken to scale down the ceremonial display during the Retreat Ceremony' at these borders with Pakistan. 'The key changes include: Suspension of the symbolic handshake of the Indian Guard Commander with the counterpart Guard Commander. 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 statement added. India has already announced that the Integrated Check Post at the border in Attari will be closed after the terror attack at Pahalgam. It has also asked all Pakistani nationals to leave the country by April 27 and those on medical visas by April 29. The Attari-Wagah border retreat ceremony is a daily ritual performed between India and Pakistan. Conducted by BSF and Pakistan Rangers since 1959, it involves synchronised marches, high kicks, and flag-lowering before sunset, attracting up to 25,000 to 50,000 spectators daily. Historically, the ceremony was toned down in 2010 for less hostility, included a handshake, and featured traditions like exchanging sweets during Eid and Diwali. Similar ceremonies occur at other border points like Hussainiwala near Ferozepur and Sadki near Fazilka in Punjab but Attari is the most prominent.
