Punjab: The Border Security Force (BSF) of India has announced the resumption of the public retreat ceremony at three locations along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, marking the end of a two-week suspension that followed heightened military tensions.
The daily ceremonial event, known for its coordinated flag-lowering display and patriotic fervor, was halted on May 8 as a security measure in the wake of Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces’ large-scale retaliatory airstrikes launched on May 7.
The strikes were conducted in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives and was attributed to Pakistan-based terror outfits.
While the Jalandhar-headquartered Punjab Frontier of BSF confirmed that the ceremony resumed on May 20, today’s session was held exclusively for media personnel. The general public will be allowed to attend the ceremony starting May 21 at 6 p.m.
Officials clarified that, despite the absence of public gatherings during the suspension period, the ceremonial lowering of the national flag continued daily under tight security.
Operation Sindoor saw precision airstrikes targeting Jaish-e-Mohammad’s Bahawalpur stronghold and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Muridke base in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
According to Indian authorities, over 100 terrorists, including key figures such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudasir Ahmed, were eliminated.
In retaliation, Pakistan launched strikes on Indian cities, escalating tensions until both nations agreed to cease hostilities on May 10. The retreat ceremony’s revival signals a return to routine border protocols and symbolizes a step toward de-escalation.
