With improvement in Indo-Pak relations, the Indian Border Security Force at the Wagah border has done away with its old practice of displaying aggressive postures at the Pakistani rangers during the daily sunset parade.
"The aggressive postures during the gate closing ceremony as part of age old practice are no more on the Indian side. Now we are quite hopeful that shortly both BSF and Pakistani Rangers at Wagah border would be friendly," BSF DIG Hemant Prohit, according to a news report received here.
The Pakistani side is likely to reciprocate by this month-end as per the decision taken at a meeting between BSF and rangers in Lahore last week, said the report adding, the change in the overall atmosphere at the border checkpoint is evident as the usual anti-Indian and anti-Pakistani slogans are also no longer heard.
The aggression was replaced by hundreds of school girls on Pakistan side waving red roses at the Indian crowd and the gestures, showered in return by Christian nuns in white dresses on the Indian side, added the report received here from Wagah.
The aggressive postures followed since ages in the presence of a large crowds were intended to infuse hatred on both sides during the times of enmity, BSF DIG said.
The official sources, according to the report, said that the two border forces have started "re-orienting" their personnel involved in the decades old ritualistic exercise.
The decision to amend the style was taken at a top level meeting of BSF and Pakistani rangers at Lahore last week after, added the source.
As per the agreement, the "objectionable gestures" in the parade would be removed so that the other side is not offended, sources said continuing, "the aim is to make it more dignified so that the spirit behind the drill is fulfilled."