Wagah ( Hindi वाघा , Urdu واہگہ ) is the only settlement through which one can cross the border between India and Pakistan [1] . Wagah is located on the old great wheel track between the cities of Amritsar and Lahore . Wagah itself is a village through which Radcliffe’s controversial line passed in 1947, dividing the village into two parts. The eastern part of the village is located in India , the western - in Pakistan .
Content
Border
The border in Wagah is often called the “ Berlin Wall of Asia ” [2] , and a ceremony called “flag-down” [3] takes place here every evening, the first of which was held in 1959 [4] . The observance of order at the border is monitored by Indian border troops and Pakistani Rangers . The ceremony itself to foreigners may seem a demonstration of strength and aggression, but in fact is a cultural tradition and does not carry negative to the neighboring state [1] [5] [6] . The troops of each country participate in this show in uniforms and colorful turban [7] . The border guards of the two countries sometimes go to their colleagues across the border during the day [1] .
History
Under British rule, the village was part of the Lahore region British province of Punjab [8] . In 1947, this province, like the village, was divided between India and Pakistan.
In May 2005, the Government of Pakistan authorized the import of food from India across the border in Wagah to overcome food shortages in the domestic market; [9] On October 1, 2006, columns of trucks with goods crossed the border in Wagah in both directions, which was the first major trade exchange between the two countries since independence more than 50 years ago [10] . 1,400 Pakistani and 1,300 Indian porters participated in the unloading of these trucks. Trade between the two countries through Wagah totaled $ 1.3 billion in 2007 and was expected to exceed $ 10 billion by 2010 [11] .
On November 2, 2014, a terrorist act was committed in Wagah - a suicide bomber detonated a powerful explosive device on the Pakistani side 500 meters from the border. As a result, up to 60 people died, more than 100 were injured. [12] [13] [14]
Notes
- 2 1 2 3 Mixed feelings on India-Pakistan border , BBC News .
- ↑ Percy, Steve . Through Asia's Berlin Wall , New Statesman (June 12, 2000).
- ↑ Thorold, Crispin . Batting for unity in Pakistan , BBC News .
- ↑ Wagah border ceremony aggression toned down , BBC News .
- ↑ Chakraverti, Sauvik . Shadow Lines: Let's Be Free Trade, Wagah Border Be Damned , The Times of India .
- ↑ Kapur, Mridula. Sundown 'Madness' at Wagah ( Neopr .) // The South Asian Life & Times.
- ↑ Wagah Border Unsolved . University of Alberta.
- ↑ Lahore District (Neopr.) // The Imperial Gazetteer of India . - Oxford University Press , 1908. - Vol . 16 . - p . 99 .
- ↑ Reddy, B. Muralidhar . Will opening Wagah border trade trade ties? , The Hindu (July 28, 2005).
- ↑ Ramesh, Randeep . For vehicles in India, Pakistan , Tehran Times .
- ↑ Page, Jeremy . Porters become excess bag on border , The Times .
- Inj Wagah border suicide attack leaves 59 dead, over 100 injured (Eng.)
- ↑ 60 Killed in Pakistan in Suicide Attack at Wagah Border (Eng.)
- ↑ Deadly blast on Pakistan’s border with India (English)