06-09-2004

Long live Pakistan, hail mother India

via www.expressindia.com

As Indian and Pakistani diplomats meet to push forward peace, their border guards play out a jingoistic ritual of confrontation to the delight of thousands of onlookers from both sides.

The carefully choreographed display of hostility takes place every evening at a flag-lowering ceremony on both sides of the rivals’ only border crossing.

Loudspeakers blare out patriotic Indian songs and soon the crowds at the Wagah border crossing, 500 km northwest of New Delhi, begin to chant…