This Article is From Oct 22, 2014

At Attari Border, no Exchange of Sweets with Pakistan on Diwali

At Attari Border, no Exchange of Sweets with Pakistan on Diwali

Continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan have soured the relationship.

New Delhi: The ceasefire violations by Pakistan continuing unabated, Indian forces have decided to skip the traditional exchange of Diwali sweets with Pakistani guards at the Attari border.

"No sweets will be exchanged this Diwali," said MF Farooqui, deputy inspector general, Border Security Forces, or BSF, which mans the gates at Attari.

The exchange of sweets at the border during festivals is an age-old tradition but the continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan have soured the relationship. On Eid, the guards on both sides of the border kept their distance. The gates had been kept closed.

Even today, the Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire on the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Diwali visit to the state.

Firing started in the Ramgarh area of Samba district around 9.40 AM.  It stopped soon, but then fresh firing began at Arnia, in Jammu's RS Pura sector.

India has taken a strong stand against the ceasefire violations by Pakistan and the forces have been retaliating regularly. Altogether, around 20 people have died on both sides of the border.

On Tuesday, India warned Pakistan of more "pain" if it continues the ceasefire violations. Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told NDTV that India has asked its armed forces to retaliate it is up to Islamabad to create the conditions for a resumption of talks.(Read: Sword, Not Just Shield, in India's Hand, Defence Minister Warns Pakistan)


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