The Wagah Border, often referred to as the Attari-Wagah Border, is a significant crossing point between India and Pakistan, located on the historic Grand Trunk Road between Amritsar in India and Lahore in Pakistan. This border gained prominence following the partition of British India in 1947, which led to the creation of two separate nations: India and Pakistan. The partition line, known as the Radcliffe Line, divided the Punjab region, with Wagah village situated on the Pakistani side and Attari village on the Indian side.
Since 1959, the border has been the site of a daily military practice known as the Beating Retreat Ceremony. This event is conducted jointly by the Border Security Force of India and the Pakistan Rangers. The ceremony is characterized by elaborate and rapid dance-like maneuvers, high leg raises, and a display of military pageantry. It symbolizes both the rivalry and the brotherhood between the two nations and has become a popular attraction for both locals and tourists.
The Wagah Border serves not only as a customs post but also as a goods transit terminal and a railway station between Pakistan and India. It stands as a poignant reminder of the subcontinent’s partition and continues to be a focal point for diplomatic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
