Attari goes sour, Rangers-BSF dump goodwill gesture
With tension prevailing at the border, the traditional exchange of sweets between the Indian and Pakistan armies on the occasion of Eid at the Attari border was called off.
With tension prevailing at the border, the traditional exchange of sweets between the Indian and Pakistan armies on the occasion of Eid at the Attari border was called off.
Attari is one of the more peaceful areas along the border and this is the first time at this checkpost that the two armies have not exchanged sweets to mark a festival. This has been attributed to the strain in the relationship between both countries.
Sources said the Pakistan Rangers was initially reluctant to offer sweets to the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), who also refused to give sweets to the Rangers.
Confirming this development, BSF DIG MG Farooqui said, “It was the Pakistan Rangers who showed reluctance (in offering sweets) and we too followed suit. Initially, they had told us that the sweet exchange would go on as scheduled but later the message came that they had certain instructions and couldn’t follow through with the gesture. So, we also refused to give them sweets.”
Farooqui went on to say that they would think twice before offering sweets to Pakistan on Diwali.
Traditionally at the Attari border check post, goodwill gestures have always gone ahead regardless of tension at other border areas.
But he refused to comment on whether this was a direct result of the ceasefire violation on Monday morning.