Beating Retreat Returns Without Handshake Amid Post-Operation Sindoor Tensions

India resumes Beating Retreat at three border checkposts in restricted format; symbolic handshake with Pakistan Rangers suspended after Pahalgam attack.

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Sumit Kumar
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Beating retreat

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi – The iconic Beating Retreat ceremony at the India-Pakistan border resumed on May 20, but with significant changes in protocol following heightened tensions in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India’s launch of Operation Sindoor.

Held daily since 1959, the ceremony had been closed to the public due to security concerns following the operation. It has now restarted at Attari-Wagah, Hussainiwala (Ferozepur district), and Sadki (Fazilka district)—three symbolic points along the International Border.

Beating

While the public is now allowed to witness the event once again, officials confirmed that the format has been altered to reflect the current diplomatic climate. Most notably, the ceremonial handshake between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers—a hallmark of the daily event—has been suspended, and the border gates will remain closed throughout the ceremony.

The Indian flag, which continued to be lowered by BSF troops during the suspension, now returns to being lowered before an audience, albeit under tighter restrictions.

The resumption has sparked a wave of online criticism, with several netizens using the hashtag #IndPakNotEquals to question the decision. Critics argue that such displays may blur the lines between national dignity and performative diplomacy, especially after the recent escalation in border tensions.