India – Pakistan Entertaining Border Closing Ceremony at Wagah Attari

The British Empire still casts a long shadow when it comes to the organization of the India and Pakistan military, especially in the over the top but entertaining pomp and circumstance exhibited at the end of day border closing ceremony at Wagah Attari.

While the border between India and Pakistan remains one of the most heavily defended and dangerous border areas in the world as you can see from watching the video that fact doesn’t impede in anyway the gathering of large crowds in order to watch the border closing ceremony.

In watching the video I had the feeling that I was watching action on a movie set rather than a live ceremony that apparently takes place every day at nightfall.

I must admit that the Indian and Pakistani soldiers look splendid in their military ceremonial attire while simultaneously looking rather ridiculous as they strut about in an effort to outdo each other. No doubt, however, that the competition between the Indian and Pakistani troops delights the crowds who lined up several rows deep to watch the proceedings. For two nations that have gone to war two times since the 1949 petition of India into India and Pakistan, and who have a deep distrust of each other as evidenced by their continuing dispute over Kashmir, the closing of the border ceremony highlights the continuing competition between the two nations.

As ridiculous as the Wagah Attari ceremony may be it is still a far better way for the two nations to confront each other rather than engage in another shooting war. The fact that both Pakistan and India belong to the nuclear club of nations makes any escalation of tensions highly alarming and dangerous. Credit should be given to India for showing restraint after last years attack on Mumbai which was apparently organized and supported by a terrorist group residing in Pakistan. Probably Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups will continue in their efforts to destabilize the region.

Perhaps the India Pakistan border closing ceremony at Wagah Attari serves a more useful purpose than simply entertaining tourists. At the end of the ceremony the Indian and Pakistani officers shake hands and they and the rest of the troops call it a day. Hopefully, that lesson in coexistence will be taken to heart by Indian and Pakistani politicians. It would be a great tragedy to see the troops at Wagah Attari start shooting at each other rather than attempting to outdo each other in the border closing ceremony.

The possibility that any future shooting conflict between Indian and Pakistani forces could escalate into a nuclear war is real and frightening.