Netizens Slam Provocative Gestures During 'Beating the Retreat' Ceremony at Indo-Pakistan Border

© AFP 2023 / NARINDER NANUIndian Border Security Force (BSF) commandant Jasbir Singh (3L) receives sweets from Pakistan's Rangers wing commander Aamir (3R) on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Diwali at the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35km from Amritsar on October 24, 2022.
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) commandant Jasbir Singh (3L) receives sweets from Pakistan's Rangers wing commander Aamir (3R) on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Diwali at the India-Pakistan Wagah border post, about 35km from Amritsar on October 24, 2022. - Sputnik International, 1920, 25.10.2022
Subscribe
The Pakistan Rangers and India's Border Security Force (BSF) traditionally exchange candies on major festive occasions such as Holi, Diwali, Eid, and Independence Day. However, over the years, even those special days can become overshadowed by an escalation of tensions.
'Beating the Retreat' is the daily event witnessed in the evening at Wagah, the army outpost on the Indo-Pakistani border between the cities of Amritsar in India and and Lahore in Pakistan.
Just before sunset, soldiers from the Indian and Pakistan military meet at this border post to engage in a half-hour display of military camaraderie and showmanship.
The ceremony has been held since 1959 and includes closing the international gates and lowering the flags of both countries.

"In the morning, the Border guards at the 'zero line' of the India-Pakistan International Border exchange sweets and by the evening they were making provocative gestures. Failed to understand...," said the caption to a video posted by a senior Punjab-based journalist online.

The aggressive gestures didn't go down well with a section of netizens, who felt the ceremony should not be held at all.

"Enough with this gate-closing ceremony - this should be stopped. It’s more like over-acting from both sides.. better to have a simple gate-closing program rather than such eye gestures and other unnecessary movements," another Twitter user said.

"No one wants war but at the same time no one wants peace with Pakistan," another added.
A third declared that it was a military ritual which could never be understood by civilians.

"I think this Armymen gesture, should not be part of civilian emotions," he concluded.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала