The daily Retreat ceremony held at Attari-Wagah along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab has been "cancelled" for Friday in the wake of IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's impending return to India from the frontier point.
A senior BSF official said the martial ceremony has been called off due to administrative requirements in the wake of Varthaman's release at this frontier.
The public will not be allowed in the ceremony area that is located in Attari of Punjab along the Indo-Pak border, the BSF official said.
They said the decision has been taken in view of "military requirements" as Varthaman, captured by Pakistani forces, will be handed over to senior Indian Air Force officials at the Attari gate.
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The Border Security Force (BSF) conducts the ceremony in coordination with their cross-border counterparts Pakistani Rangers. It involves lowering of the flags of the two countries along with foot stomping manoeuvres of the troops.
Abhinandan was captured by the Pakistan Army after his fighter jet crashed in an air duel with a Pakistani F-16. He shot down the plane before his own went down, forcing him to eject. He fell into Pakistani territory.
On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that he would be released.
PTI
