Joint parade with Pak, but no exchange of sweets at Attari

Amritsar, January 25

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, no spectators will be allowed to enter the joint check post to watch the festivities of the Republic Day programme at the Attari border.

Nonetheless, the BSF will conduct a joint parade with its Pakistan counterparts. There will be no exchange of sweets ‘owing’ to the Covid-19 threat. A senior BSF official told The Tribune that unlike the programme held on August 15, the Republic Day would witness a full parade in coordination with the Pakistan Rangers.

“Due to the Covid pandemic, no spectator will be allowed to enter the check post at Attari. The programme will start at 3.40 pm. Three cultural programmes, including live musical band by the BSF, will be presented. The culture programme will be conducted by students of Khalsa College, Amritsar. This will be followed by Beating the Retreat ceremony which will last for 15 minutes,” he said.

The BSF and Pakistan Rangers have not been exchanging sweets on special occasions at the border since India abrogated Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. — TNS