Armed forces exchange sweets at Wagah-Attari border on Diwali

The occasion marks significance in the wake of strained ties between India and Pakistan


Web Desk November 11, 2015
DG Punjab Rangers shakes hand with the Indian BSF official at Wagah Border. PHOTO: AFP

ATTARI/WAGAH: Indian and Pakistani Forces at the border of Wagah-Attari exchanged sweets on the occasion of Diwali.

Bipul Bir Gusain, BSF Amritsar sector Commandant, handed a basket full of sweets to Pakistan Ranger Wing Commander Lt Col Bilal Ahmed at the zero line, according to officials.

The opposing personnel also exchanged pleasantries and wished greetings to each other amid the Hindu festival of Diwali.

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The occasion marks significance in the wake of strained ties between India and Pakistan.

Prior to this event, no ceremonial exchange of sweets and gifts had taken place between Indian and Pakistani Forces during the Independence Day celebrations on both the sides.

This article was originally published in The Economic Times

COMMENTS (2)

Sunil | 8 years ago | Reply We threw them in the bin.
S.R.H. Hashmi | 8 years ago | Reply Exchanging sweets is definitely preferable to exchanging bombs and bullets and I wish there could be more of it. And when the forces on both sides of the border have the capability to either exchange bombs and bullets or sweets and smiles, why do the former? After all, the cross-border firing kills, in both countries, mostly innocent men, women and children, and even worse sufferers are those who get disabled for life. I wish people in our region also learn live in a spirit of peace and goodwill, as good, decent neighbours, like Europeans do, who also fought bitter world wars but had the good sense to get over it and realize that an atmosphere of hatred and hostility, leading sometimes to wars, helps no one. And these lessons are even more important to learn for countries like India and Pakistan which have limited resources and plentiful needs, and ought to use their scant resources wisely. Karachi
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