Twelve days after the Border Security Force (BSF) suspended the retreat ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border, the iconic event is set to resume from May 21, officials confirmed. The ceremony was held on Tuesday for media coverage at 6 pm, with public attendance allowed starting the following day.
The retreat ceremony will commence at all three Joint Check Posts (JCPs) along the Punjab Frontier—Attari-Wagah in Amritsar, Hussainiwala in Ferozepur, and Sadki in Fazilka.
The decision to scale down the retreat ceremony last month followed the Pahalgam terror attack. As previously announced, BSF troops will not shake hands with Pakistan Rangers, and the border gates will remain closed during the proceedings.
The retreat ceremony, a long-standing tradition since 1959, is a symbol of military decorum and national pride, featuring synchronised drills and flag-lowering rituals by troops from both sides of the border. The resumption of public attendance is expected to bring relief to border communities that rely heavily on tourism linked to the event.
On May 8, the BSF suspended public entry at the ceremony across all three locations, citing "public safety" concerns. The move came a day after the launch of Operation Sindoor, during which India targeted and destroyed nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
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