After Pahalgam Attack, Border Ceremony Turns Cold: No Handshake Between India and Pakistan
At the Wagah border today, an unusual silence replaced the usual spirit of the daily ceremony as soldiers from India and Pakistan completed the flag-lowering without their traditional handshake.
The change comes just days after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, which has reignited tensions between the two nations. What is normally a lively and symbolic event turned into a formal, emotionless routine. Soldiers performed their drills with discipline, but neither side extended a hand of friendship.
Spectators, many of whom travel from far to witness the ceremony, noticed the serious mood. “Today, it felt different. There was pride, but also pain,” said a visitor from Amritsar.
No official statement was issued regarding the absence of the handshake, but sources suggest that security concerns and public sentiment after the attack influenced the decision.
Both countries are now facing a delicate moment. Calls for stronger action are rising in India, while Pakistan is urging for calm amid growing international attention. How the two governments navigate this latest crisis could define the future of their fragile relationship.
