Asia-Pacific

No toning down of Wagah ceremony: Pakistani official

By Uking Sun (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-07-26 10:49

Pakistan officials denied media reports that the flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border was changed to appear less aggressive, saying it was just showing the best qualities of the rangers.

Pakistani rangers (black uniforms) and Indian honor guards take part in a daily flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border, some 30 kilometers from Lahore, Pakistan, July 23, 2010. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

The ceremony, usually lasting 40 minutes, involves a complex parade of goose-stomping, walking, foot kicking, imposing body gestures and a brief handshaking of well-dressed rangers from both sides, and visitors passionately shouting slogans such as "Zindabad Pakistan" (long live Pakistan) and waving their fists in the air.

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The overall atmosphere at the ceremony is friendly between the two countries that have fought three wars. But still, there were some signs of competition and a show of national power. When Pakistani rangers unlocked the rope from the pole to loosen the flag more quickly than their Indian counterparts, Pakistani visitors applauded. Slogan shouting and cheers also came frequently from visitors at the Indian border.

Lt Col Sher Jang, Pakistan's commanding official of rangers at the Wagah border, said it's up to India if they decide to change their walking postures out of concern for injuries to their joints and knees, as media previously reported.

"We are just showing the rangers' quality with decent and respectful gestures and to be manly. This is not aggressive at all. There's no change on how we performed the ceremony," he said.

He also said that there were minor adjustments in the Pakistani rangers' posturing, such as changing the thumps down into fist waving, to appear more forceful.

The daily ceremony has attracted a growing number of Pakistani visitors, sometimes more than 10,000. A Pakistani boy said he visited the place twice and found the ceremony very interesting. Now visitors have to pay a symbolic amount of entrance fee, used for maintenance, according to Jang.

The commanding official also said the Wagah border is an important trade route between Pakistan and India. In the latest development, Pakistan media reported that Afghanistan is also allowed to use the border to export Afghan goods to India.