It's better this way, the "high kick" ceremony at the India-Pakistan border has resumed!
The difference is that they no longer shake hands, and the gates between the two countries remain closed during the flag-lowering ceremony.
According to an article published on May 24 by Komsomolskaya Pravda of Russia.
India has resumed the famous border ceremony known as the "high kick" ceremony.
However, unlike before, the Border Security Force (BSF) guards of India and the Pakistan Rangers no longer symbolically shake hands, and the gates between the two countries remain closed during the flag-lowering ceremony.
This change is a symbolic gesture for India - on one hand, restraint; on the other hand, unwillingness to achieve full reconciliation amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.
The Vlogs ceremony has been held daily since 1959 on the India-Pakistan border. At sunset, soldiers from both sides lower their flags simultaneously, stomping their feet and rubbing their heels, performing dramatic actions to emphasize their strength and discipline.
The ceremony at the border has become a ritualized form of "adversarial brotherhood."
The idea for this ceremony was born in the late 1950s as a signal to the world that even enemies can interact according to rules, gradually becoming a tourist attraction.
Every evening, hundreds, sometimes thousands, gather at Vlogs to witness this 45-minute ceremony.
However, in 2019, against the backdrop of deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan, especially after the events in Kashmir, the ceremony was suspended, severely affecting the economy of local residents near Vlogs. Many Indians living near the border crossing rely on tourists for a living, selling souvenirs, food, accommodation, and transportation.
Now, with the return of tourists, residents have once again had the opportunity to earn money, bringing them satisfaction and hope for stability.
Nevertheless, the decision to resume the ceremony has sparked anger and criticism from some Indian citizens and patriots. Some see it as a superficial sign of weakness: "India has surrendered," "made concessions."
In their view, Pakistan has not taken retaliatory measures.
Resuming the ceremony without handshake or opening gates as symbolic gestures of reconciliation indicates that relations between India and Pakistan are still tense but both sides are willing to maintain formal channels of communication.
It's an edge dance - beautiful, solemn, yet cold.
No matter how high the soldiers' kicks are, the level of trust between nations remains low.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832958070838272/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the views of the author.