Pakistan refuses to stop boot-stomping at Wagah
Sunday November 07, 2010 06:42:55 PM,
Awais Saleem, IANS
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Islamabad:
Pakistan has shot down an Indian suggestion to do away with the
aggressive posturing and boot-stomping during the traditional
flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border post between India and
Pakistan, an official said.
"The troops will continue their daily parade as part of the flag
lowering and hoisting ceremonies at Wagah border in the
traditional enthusiastic style without any change as such," said
Nadeem Raza, a spokesman for Pakistan Rangers (Punjab).
"However, it has been decided to revive formal handshake between
the officers representing the two sides.
"No change has been introduced in the parade's style otherwise,
and the apprehensions expressed by the Indian Border Security
Force (BSF) regarding the "hostile gestures" by the Rangers are
baseless," he added.
The Rangers were yet to receive a fresh request or proposal from
the BSF about how to minimise the aggressive gestures during the
drills, the spokesman said.
During a joint media briefing Oct 30 by Pakistan Rangers (Punjab)
Director General Maj. Gen. Muhammad Yaqoob Khan and his BSF
counterpart Raman Srivastava, the Rangers chief had said both
countries had agreed to tone down the hostile gestures exchanged
by soldiers at Wagah border during the flag hoisting and lowering
ceremonies.
"Though it was not on our agenda, on my counterpart's request we
have discussed it and decided to tone down the offensive gestures
like fist gestures, hand touching, thumb-showing, staring etc. The
soldiers from both sides will also shake hand with each other so
as to have a cordial environment during the daily flag lowering
ceremony," he had said.
Khan now said the drill at Wagah will "continue in its traditional
way".
"These practices were not aggression and were just part of the
drills," the Dawn Sunday quoted Khan as saying.
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