The Government of India has reopened the Beating Retreat ceremony to the public at all three joint checkposts along the India-Pakistan border. Public entry had been suspended following Operation Sindoor, which was launched in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
The ceremonies resumed today, May 20, at the Attari-Wagah border, Hussainiwala (Ferozepur district), and Sadki (Fazilka district), all located on the International Border (IB). However, officials have confirmed that the ceremony will be held in a restricted format.
The usual symbolic handshake between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers will not take place, and the border gates will remain closed during the flag-lowering ceremony.
While the Indian flag was being lowered every day by BSF troops, the public was denied entry owing to “security” reasons.
For those unversed, Beating Retreat is a traditional ceremony featuring coordinated military drills, which includes high kicks and lowering of national flags on both sides. The event, which has taken place since 1959, usually ends with a handshake between the commanders.
While this has brought relief to the people living near the border, whose primary livelihood depends on tourists attending the ceremony, a section of the Internet remains unhappy, arguing that “India and Pakistan are not equals” and that the government should do away with it.
“This beating the retreat is a very bad idea. It makes it look like India and Pakistan are equals. There is absolutely no need for all this,” wrote one person on X (formerly Twitter).
One more Internet user echoed a similar sentiment: “Pathetic. If the compulsion is local businesses and visitor footfalls, build a war/partition museum-park and have daily performances of how Pakistan has lost every war it has fought. Instead of the dumbassery of the Attari-Wagah beating retreat rubbish. We are not equals.”
Another said, “Bad decision. We need to close every damn relationship with them. What’s the need for this beating retreat thing?”
“It’s a humble request to you, beating retreat should not start at the Wagah border. It should be banned forever. It hurt people’s sentiments. It’s not the time to start…,” expressed yet another social media user.
A fourth person said, “The Beating Retreat at Attari-Wagah must end NOW! Pakistan’s shameless provocations and border theatrics insult India’s pride and fuel pointless hostility. Let’s scrap this relic of rivalry forever.”
“The beating retreat at Wagah border should be done away with permanently. This is demeaning to the stature of the country and the armed forces. This looks more like a circus!” chimed yet another Internet user.
The ceremony was previously suspended following the 2014 Wagah suicide bombing and the 2019 Pulwama attack on CRPF personnel.