Following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the Indian government is reportedly preparing to suspend the iconic Beating Retreat ceremony held at the Attari border in Punjab’s Amritsar. According to sources cited by India Today, formal orders are expected to be issued soon. The suspension is part of a series of decisions taken during a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
As part of these measures, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that the integrated check post at Attari would be closed with immediate effect. He clarified that individuals who have already crossed over with valid documents may return through the same route before May 1, 2025.
Local businesses near the border, especially restaurant owners, have expressed support for the government’s decision. One restaurant owner told India Today, “We welcome the PM Modi government’s decision. We are Indians and it is good that action is taken. We feel that this message was necessary. Whatever happened in Pahalgam was shocking.”
The Beating Retreat ceremony, which has been held annually since 1959, is a joint performance by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Pakistan Rangers. It involves synchronized military drills, ceremonial flag-lowering, and symbolic gestures such as handshakes and flagpole competitions. Attracting nearly 50,000 tourists daily during peak months (October to March), the event is not only a display of military tradition but also a major tourist attraction.
This would not be the first time the ceremony has been suspended. It was previously halted after the 2014 suicide bombing at Wagah and again in 2019, following the capture of Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.
Beyond its symbolic significance, the Attari-Wagah border serves as a vital trade and transit point between India and Pakistan. Indian exports like soybean, chicken feed, vegetables, red chillies, plastic pellets (dana), and plastic yarn are routinely transported via this route. The closure is expected to significantly impact traders, particularly in Punjab, who depend on it for regular shipments of essential goods.
According to The Times of India, trade through the land port in the fiscal year 2023–24 amounted to ₹3,886.53 crore. The same period saw 6,871 cargo movements and 71,563 passenger crossings.
