Indo–Pakistani border
Nighttime panorama from outer space showing the border's span from the Arabian Sea to the foothills of the Himalayas
Characteristics
Entities India  Pakistan
Length3,323 kilometres (2,065 mi)
History
Established17 August 1947
partition of British India
Current shape2 July 1972
Demarcation of the Line of Control post-ratification of the Shimla Treaty
TreatiesKarachi Agreement (1949), Shimla Agreement (1972)
NotesThe Line of Control divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan—it is not a part of the internationally recognized section of the border due to the Kashmir conflict

The India–Pakistan, Indo–Pakistani or Pakistani-Indian border is the international boundary that separates the nations of the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. At its northern end is the Line of Control, which separates Indian-administered Kashmir from Pakistani-administered Kashmir; and at its southern end is Sir Creek, a tidal estuary in the Rann of Kutch between the Indian state of Gujarat and the Pakistani province of Sindh.[1]

Arising from the partition of British India in 1947, the border covers the provincial boundaries of Gujarat and Rajasthan with Sindh, and the Radcliff Line between the partitions of Punjab. It traverses a variety of terrain in the northwestern region of the subcontinent, ranging from major urban areas to inhospitable deserts.[2] Since the beginning of the India–Pakistan conflict shortly after the two countries' conjoined independence, it has been the site of numerous cross-border military standoffs and full-scale wars.[2] The border's total length is 3,323 kilometres (2,065 mi) according to figures given by the PBS;[2] it is also ranked as one of the most dangerous international boundaries in the world, based on an article written in Foreign Policy in 2011.[3] During the nighttime, the India–Pakistan border is distinctly visible from outer space due to the 150,000 floodlights installed by India on approximately 50,000 poles.[4][5]

Section distinction

Map of the Kashmir region showing the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary between India and Pakistan

The border between the two nations is an internationally recognised frontier from Gujarat/Sindh only with exemption to the Line of Control that is not internationally accepted. The disputed region of Kashmir got divided through the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 into the regions of Pakistan-administered Kashmir & Indian-administered Kashmir. The UN-mediated ceasefire line of 1949 served as the de facto border between the two regions, which was revised to a Line of Control after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[6]

The border between Indian-administered Kashmir and the Pakistani province of Punjab is officially called the "Working Boundary" by the UN.[7] India regards it as the international border.[6]

Sections of the India–Pakistan border from north to south:

  1. Line of Control (LoC): De facto boundary between Indian-administered Kashmir and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. Its current form was demarcated after the 1972 Simla Agreement.
  2. Working Boundary: Separates Punjab, Pakistan from Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. It is referred to as a working boundary by the UN;[7] Pakistani Punjab is internationally recognized as a part of Pakistan by both parties while Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory (claimed by Pakistan, controlled by India).[8][6]
  3. International Boundary (IB): The demarcated line between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, recognized by both sides internationally.

Border crossings

Border ceremonies

Pakistani border soldier performing a high kick at the Wagah border ceremony in 2015.
Wagah border ceremony, 2015.

At the following border crossing sites and the beating retreat flag ceremonies are jointly held by the military of both nations every day at 6:30 pm, which are open to public as tourist attractions.[10][11] No special permit or ticket is needed. The ceremony sites are as follows (from north to south):

Wagah–Attari border ceremony

The flag lowering ceremony at the village of Wagah is held each evening immediately before sunset by the border agents of Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) and India (Border Security Force or BSF).[15] It is a tradition dating back to 1959. The ceremony begins with battle calls from both sides in the form of loud screaming done by the border guards. This is followed by a series of organized high kicks, stomps, and dance moves during which the opposing forces stare each other down.[16] The event ends with a handshake of good faith being exchanged by the head guards along with the lowering of the flags.[16] The crowd cheers and claps enthusiastically through it all. The ritual is known to attract international tourists and even celebrities.[16] It is symbolic of the brotherhood as well as the rivalry that these two nations share.[16] The border troops are known to exchange sweets with the opposing side during the Muslim holidays of Eid and Hindu holiday of Diwali, but in 2016 and 2018 the BSF have avoided doing so due to rising military tensions. It has been a peaceful gathering with the exception of the 2014 Wagah border suicide attack in which 60 people were killed and over 110 people were left injured.[17] It has also been cancelled on occasion such as when Pakistan returned Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman back to India after his plane was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during the 2019 India-Pakistan standoff.[18]

Similar border ceremonies held by India (Border Security Force, BSF) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) occur at Fazilka border (India side) / Sulaimanki, Punjab and Hussainiwala border, Punjab (India side) / Ganda Singh Wala border, Kasur District (Pakistan side). These rituals are attended primarily by the local villagers and garner very few spectator tourists.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Khan, MH (5 March 2006). "Back on track". Dawn News archives. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 PBS Release (26 July 2005). "Border Jumpers The World's Most Complex Borders: Pakistan/India". PBS. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  3. ↑ PHILIP WALKER (24 June 2011). "The World's Most Dangerous Borders". The Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "India-Pakistan Borderlands at Night". India-Pakistan Border at Night. NASA. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  5. ↑ "Annotated image from NASA".
  6. 1 2 3 Library, C. N. N. (8 November 2013). "Kashmir Fast Facts". CNN. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Deployment". United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "From Line of Control to Working Boundary". Daily Times. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "Radcliffe Line to divide India-Pakistan was formed this day: Read about it here". India Today. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 crossing points in India: All you need to know, India Today, 10 OCt 2016.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Beating Retreat Wagah India, CHanging Guards, accessed 8 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Sadqi retreat ceremony, nic.in, accessed 8 July 2021.
  13. ↑ Second Wagah: India, Pak agree to new ceremony, beating retreat on Punjab border, Hindustan Times, 201 April 2017.
  14. ↑ At Sadiqi border, strained Indo-Pak ties dampen spirits, The Tribune, 17 April 2019.
  15. ↑ Khaleeli, Homa (1 November 2010). "Goodbye to the ceremony of silly walks between India and Pakistan". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Clark, Tawny. "India and Pakistan's beautiful border ritual". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  17. ↑ "Pakistan border bombing kills dozens". 3 November 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  18. ↑ "Daily Retreat ceremony along Attari-Wagah border cancelled: BSF". The Economic Times. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 20 April 2019.

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