The iconic Beating Retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border near Amritsar, Punjab, was markedly subdued. A reflection of the heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 tourists. The Border Security Force (BSF) scaled down the daily ritual, keeping border gates shut and declined the customary handshake between Indian and Pakistani commanders, a first in the ceremony’s history since 1959.
The terror attack, claimed by The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy group, prompted India to take immediate action in the form of the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. The nation shut down the Attari Integrated Check Post and expelled Pakistani diplomats. Pakistan, not one to back down, retaliated by suspending the Shimla Agreement, closing its airspace to Indian flights, and even shutting the Wagah border post. The BSF’s decision to forego the handshake and gate-opening was a “calibrated” response to express India’s “serious concern over cross-border hostilities.”Typically, the ceremony involves synchronized flag-lowering by BSF and Pakistan Rangers, drawing thousands of spectators. On April 24, the gates remained closed, and the Indian parade commander did not approach his Pakistani counterpart, a sure sign of a deliberate break from protocol. The BSF stated, “Peace and provocation cannot coexist,”
The Attari-Wagah border is a vital trade and passenger route. It saw only 125 crossings on April 24, a number quite low from it’s usual 350-400 daily due to both nations restricting movement. Local traders, although supporting India’s stance, have expressed concerns over economic impacts. The 2023-24 trade itself is valued at a staggering Rs 3,886.53 crore.
Read more: https://newscope.press/pakistan-retaliates-by-suspending-shimla-pact-closing-airspace/
