August 14: Pakistani Rangers, Indian BSF exchange sweets at Wagah

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August 14: Pakistani Rangers, Indian BSF exchange sweets at Wagah

Dawn.com Published August 14, 2014

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LAHORE: Pakistani Rangers exchanged sweets with personnel from the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) to celebrate Pakistan’s 68th Independence Day at the India-Pakistan Wagah border post on Thursday.

Punjab Rangers Director General, Major General Khan Tahir Javed Khan, and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) M F Farooqui exchanged sweets during the ceremony and also offered good wishes to each other.

A Pakistani Ranger also unfurled the national flag as BSF personnel watched during a ceremony to celebrate the country’s Independence Day on August 14, 2014.

Pakistan was celebrating the 67th anniversary of its independence from British rule today.

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Rocket Singh

Aug 14, 2014 03:42pm

This is real azadi.

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Fact

Aug 14, 2014 04:13pm

Best wishes to citizens of Pakistan...but did anyone from Pakistan notice the name of DIG of BSF? Isn't it worth appreciating? Just a thought...

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Khalid

Aug 14, 2014 04:16pm

Earlier in the Google Doodle article, it said, Pakistans 69th independence day!! then they removed it, in this article, it says 68th independence day lol. 2014-1947= 67. I think its rather too clumsy on Dawn's part to let everything through without checking the obvious mistakes.

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Haider Rehman

Aug 14, 2014 04:29pm

Mutual respect is needed to settle our differences.

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Fact

Aug 14, 2014 04:52pm

Best wishes to citizens of Pakistan...but did anyone from Pakistan notice the name of DIG of BSF? Isn't it worth appreciating? Just a thought...

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korin

Aug 14, 2014 05:03pm

Hope sweets were sent to China too.

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An Indian

Aug 14, 2014 05:30pm

It is really nice.There is no much difference among the people of the two countries.All look similar,eat similar,wear similar and even go for arguments in similar silly manner.

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roza

Aug 14, 2014 05:36pm

@Khalid hahahahaha

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Asgher Ali

Aug 14, 2014 05:43pm

It is so heart warming to hear news such as this. The feeling of love and respect in the hearts of Pakistanis for Indians and in the hearts of Indians for Pakistanis, is there but we are suppressing it. Let nature take its course and we will be embracing each other, for we are all creation of the same God.

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Khan

Aug 14, 2014 05:46pm

@Khalid Your calculations are wrong .. First Independence Day was on 14th August 1947 .. 60th was in 2006, Hence it's 68th Independence Day.

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anshul

Aug 14, 2014 05:56pm

@Khalid do calculate again it is 68th

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Haider Karrar

Aug 14, 2014 06:26pm

@An Indian Very true. God bless you

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SMQ Zaman

Aug 14, 2014 06:34pm

@Khalid May I clarify for others, too; it is: 68th 'Day of Independence' (from 14/08/47 to 14/8/14), but 67th 'Year or Anniversary of Independence' (2000 -1947 = 53 + 14 = 67 years)

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Sunil

Aug 14, 2014 06:47pm

Only at Wagah border, peace resents, where as other places of border, specially J&K, there are violations. What's the point of exchanging sweets?

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Anwar Siddique

Aug 14, 2014 07:01pm

This needs to happen more. The mullahs who use fear and hate to create trouble need to be sent to the principals office.

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Imran

Aug 14, 2014 07:03pm

@Fact . The name is Farooqui. Whats odd about that? In a country with over 150 million Muslims why would that be odd. I don't understand.

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Imran

Aug 14, 2014 07:04pm

Better exchanging sweets rather than artillery gunfire and dead bodies.

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Aug 14, 2014 07:33pm

@Asgher Ali You seem like a real man of peace. More power to you. Even if Indians and Pakistanis can come to tolerate each other that would be a great start. In the picture above if the Sikh soldier were not there it would be hard to tell who is Indian and who is Pakistani. Happy independence day to all.

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anony

Aug 14, 2014 08:46pm

This is good news for everyone.

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Fact

Aug 14, 2014 08:52pm

@Imran : Can a minority become head of a military wing in your country?

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Irfan

Aug 14, 2014 09:09pm

Sibling rivalry. Nothing more. We are same people at heart.

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Logical

Aug 14, 2014 09:43pm

@Imran ..this is odd having 150 million Muslims in India. When a separate country was created for them called Pakistan.

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Bacchus Piggawala

Aug 14, 2014 10:26pm

@Fact Indeed it is worth appreciating.

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Tamilslevan

Aug 14, 2014 10:26pm

@Fact That is the beauty of India and any secular democratic country. A person can serve his country or pursue his or dreams and religion has nothing to do with it. India has had Muslim President, one of the richest IT man, industrialist, army Generals and has progressed whereas Pakistan is fast approaching a failed state though we in India do not want it to. Don't dwell on the past work in the present for a brighter future

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Salman

Aug 14, 2014 10:37pm

Quite heart warming. On the other hand, the Ranger in grey receiving the sweets should probably not eat any and instead hit the gym a bit! That belt is beginning to struggle...

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N. Jayaram

Aug 14, 2014 10:50pm

Best wishes to all the peoples of Pakistan. Jiye Pakistan!

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Dr. Sadaf

Aug 14, 2014 11:13pm

What a drama. Carry on nothing will change.

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Dr. Sadaf

Aug 14, 2014 11:19pm

@Fact, you seem to be very proud of the fact you mentioned, but are you also proud of fact how so many Muslims were massacred in Gujrat, have no sympathies with them just stating a historical fact.

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Gautam Tewari

Aug 14, 2014 11:34pm

@Khalid : Actually they are right. Since 1947 for both Pakistan and India was considered as "Ist B'day of freedom !!" Thus 2014 makes 68th. It's unlike age when you start counting from Day 1. However please accept our Best Wishes while India prepare for it's Day of Independence today in a gala fashion !!

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Pakistan

Aug 14, 2014 11:46pm

@Khalid erm, it says 67th... people like you try to act too smart and witty only to end up being labelled as an idiot.

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Imran

Aug 15, 2014 12:17am

@Fact . Yes there are many examples of minority community going to the rank of Lt Gen / Air Marshall from minority community in Pakistan. But the minority community does not number 150 million in Pakistan.

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Kashif

Aug 15, 2014 01:30am

@Imran Can I have 1 name for my satisfaction please?

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Masood Khan

Aug 15, 2014 06:17am

Smiles on the face but hatred in the heart. And most letters from both side of the divide show similar feelings. Our rulers of the past, the British must be laughing left and right. Divide and rule, the best policy.

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Fact

Aug 15, 2014 07:47am

@Dr. Sadaf : Doctor saaahib someone just mentioned "Don't dwell on the past, work in the present for a brighter future"...that's what we Indians believe in. Gujarat is past, BSF DIG is present.

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Fact

Aug 15, 2014 10:27am

@Masood Khan : So come back to us, undo the misdoings of your ancestors and we will also reciprocate by changing what Nehru did wrong! Germany became one, so did Vietnam...why can't us?

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M K Sufi

Aug 15, 2014 12:38pm

For once one sees smiling faces - even though they are under compulsion - can't we live naturally, at least try to. 70 years is a long time. Is it possible that the civilians who come to see the flag ceremony be allowed to exchange gifts. Heaven would not fall.

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El Cid

Aug 15, 2014 04:06pm

@Fact "Gujarat is past" Not for those whose loved ones you burnt alive and not for those who remember1947 and 1971. And those who study your war budgets. Accounts are open...payment will be in kind, many times over. A promise made, will be kept.

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Manish

Aug 16, 2014 02:03am

@Masood Khan agree 100%

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Manish

Aug 16, 2014 02:09am

@El Cid any concern for those who were burnt alive in the train, which triggered the riots. why should you think only through the prism of religion.

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Arun sheel

Aug 16, 2014 03:54pm

Freedom like everyone either Human or any one in the world

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NatashaUS

Aug 16, 2014 04:56pm

@Manish:

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NatashaUS

Aug 16, 2014 05:01pm

@Manish:"why should you think only through the prism of religion." Islam is NOT a religion like the others. Islam is not a prism. Islam is 'Deen'. A way to live life according to the Laws of the Universe. The Law of MuhammadPBUM: The Glorious Quran.

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