In what is being seen as another worrying development in deteriorating ties between India and Pakistan, sweets offered by the Border Security Force (BSF) stationed at the Wagah Border on the occasion of Eid al-Adha on Monday were refused by the Pakistan Rangers.
"For the first time, the Pakistani Rangers declined to accept sweets that we offererd them," BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) MF Farooqui told ANI.
"We at the BSF have repeatedly tried to keep harmony at the border and develop a sort of coordination with our counterparts across the border. In this respect, whatever the occasion, whether religious holidays or not, we have always exchanged pleasantries with the Pakistani forces. Usually on Eid, the initiative to exchange pleasantries is taken by them, and we have always given them sweets on the occasion because India has always celebrated every major religious festival," Farooqui added.
Farooqui also said the BSF is planning to protest against the reaction of the Pakistani Rangers.
"We will lodge a protest against their not accepting our greetings because these actions can severely affect the harmony along the International Border (IB)," he said.
"We will wait for the Pakistan Rangers to give their response before we take our decision over what we will do next," Farooqui added.
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According to reports, four to five civilians, including two women, were also killed when Pakistani Rangers fired at BSF posts and civilian areas in the Arnia area of RS Pura sector along the international border in Jammu at around 1.30 a.m. on Monday morning.
Unprovoked firing has also been reported from Poonch this morning. The BSF has replied back with an equal response to the fresh firing from Pakistan.