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The Border Security Force (BSF) has suspended the iconic Beating Retreat ceremonies at all three Punjab border checkposts with Pakistan-Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala and Sadki-until further notice, citing public safety concerns amidst heightened Indo-Pak tensions, the PTI reported.
This move follows India’s precision military strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under “Operation Sindoor”, launched in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. The strikes, targeting camps associated with groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, marked one of India’s most significant cross-border operations since 1971.
According to the PTI report, a BSF spokesperson confirmed: “As per directions, there will be no ceremonial show at all three joint checkposts till the next order. No public will be permitted keeping in view their safety and security”. Barricades have been erected and roads leading to the border have been sealed to restrict visitor movement.
The Beating Retreat ceremony, a daily spectacle since 1959, is renowned for its synchronised high-kicking parade and the symbolic handshake between Indian and Pakistani border commanders. However, since the Pahalgam attack, the BSF had already scaled down the event, closing border gates and suspending the traditional handshake with the Pakistan Rangers. The ceremonial display was further reduced before this week’s complete suspension.
Tourists who arrived at the Attari-Wagah border hoping to witness the ceremony expressed disappointment but voiced strong support for the government’s decisive action, The Tribune reported.
While the ceremonial parade is suspended, the daily lowering of the national flag at sunset by the BSF and Pakistan Rangers continues without public attendance or fanfare. The BSF has assured that these measures are temporary and will be reviewed as the security situation evolves.
The suspension of the Beating Retreat ceremony is not new. Similar steps were taken after the 2014 Wagah suicide bombing and the 2019 Pulwama attack. For now, the border remains quiet, with the focus firmly on security and the safety of citizens as India and Pakistan face a tense standoff.
