No exchange of sweets at Attari-Wagah on Eid

In an unprecedented move, border guards of India and Pakistan Monday did not exchange greetings and sweets at the Attari-Wagah joint check post (JCP) on the occasion of Eid. This is the first time that the goodwill gesture has been dumped by both sides in recent years.

Border Security Force (BSF) sources said the Indian side refused to offer or accept sweets from the Pakistan Rangers due to recent repeated violations of ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir. In the latest incident Sunday night, five civilians were killed and several others injured in unprovoked firing and mortar shelling in Jammu sector.

BSF Inspector General (Punjab Frontier) Ashok Kumar said that a decision was taken Sunday evening not to give sweets to the Pakistan Rangers. This decision was taken following a flag meeting between officers of both sides held Sunday at the JCP, 30 km from Amritsar.

"The BSF decided not to give sweets to Pakistan Rangers at Attari on Eid," he said, without elaborating on the reason behind it.

BSF Deputy Inspector General M.F. Farooqui said for the first time the exchange of sweets had not happened. He said the Pakistan Rangers first said that they will offer sweets but later backtracked.

Border guards from both sides normally exchange greetings and sweets on the occasion of prominent religious festivals and other occasions like Independence Day of both countries as a goodwill gesture.

Both sides exchanged sweets Aug 14 and 15 on the occasion of Independence Day of Pakistan and India respectively.