At Wagah, smiles, not stomps

Oct 31, 2010 - Shafqat Ali |

Islamabad

There will be no more stares and glares at the Wagah border between Pakistan and India at the daily flag-hoisting and lowering ceremonies, the chief border security officials of the two countries said Saturday.

“We have decided to make the ceremonies friendlier. Officials from both sides should exchange smiles and shake hands. This will promote a healthy atmosphere,” the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) director-general, Maj. Gen. Mohammad Yaqoob, said in Lahore as he spoke to the media along with BSF director-general Raman Srivastava.
“The two sides, as we have agreed, will make it an event to become friendlier rather than incite hostility,” he added.
Hundreds of people watch the twice-a-day daily event when security officials from both sides eyeball each other as they simultaneously hoist or lower their flags. The BSF delegation was in Pakistan on a three-day visit. The two sides meet alternately in Pakistan and India at least twice a year.
“The aim is to improve relations, not create an atmosphere of animosity. We have agreed to share smiles rather than frowns,” BSF DG Raman Srivastava said.
He hoped that the change would help bring the two nations closer.
The two officers also decided to exchange prisoner information and take steps for their release.
The BSF DG said he had received positive feedback from the Pakistani side.

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