Smiles to replace glares at Wagah border

Smiles to replace glares at Wagah border

India and Pakistan formally seal a proposal to end aggressive posturing at border post

They did it till it hurt, but they've now decided not to do it anymore. As part of a move initiated by India, Pakistan and India had agreed to tone down the aggressiveness of soldiers during the gate-closing ceremony at Wagah, possibly owing to the fact the soldiers hurt their feet and knees performing the goose-stepping every day. Over this weekend, both countries put a formal seal on the deal. They have agreed to do away with the hostility of the beating retreat ceremony at the army outpost in Wagah border near Amritsar. According to Pakistani media reports, the decision to tone down the aggression was taken on Saturday during a meeting of the director-general of the Pakistani Punjab Rangers, Major General Muhammad Yaqoob, and director general of the Border Security Force, Raman Shrivastav, in Lahore. Moreover, what may inspire confidence in the ability of the two neighbours to resolve issues, the idea of toning down hostility at the flag ceremony was not even on the agenda of the talks held between the Pakistan Rangers and the Border Security Force, at least this time. "It was not on our agenda," the director-general of Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Major General Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, told reporters after conclusion of the latest round of biannual talks between the two sides. "But we discussed it on a request from my counterpart [director general of BSF Raman Srivastav]." According to sources, the two sides had during talks in March agreed to do away with 'thumb showing' and 'staring'. Now, they've decided that soldiers would shake hands and smile when the gates are opened. Earlier, the handshake was accompanied by aggressive posturing. A Pakistan Rangers spokesman had said at that time that Major General Yaqoob had refused to do away with foot-pressing and leg-stretching gestures.