Nearly empty visitors’ galleries on the Pakistan side at the Attari-Wagah border during the retreat ceremony between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers for the past two evenings virtually summed up the neighbouring country’s mood after the imposition of emergency by General Pervez Musharraf.

However, the international border check post is witnessing hectic activity with many foreigners crossing over from across the border into India after imposition of the emergency in Pakistan. Several Indian visitors to Pakistan and Pakistani visitors to India were also seen rushing back to their respective countries due to the political churning in the neighbouring country.

While the visitors’ galleries on the Indian side were jam-packed with hundreds of slogan-raising  visitors cheering the BSF jawans sprightly marching during the retreat ceremony, the response at the galleries on the Pakistani side was comparatively lukewarm. 

Usually, there is a great rush of people every evening on both sides of the border post-the only road transport route open between the two countries- to witness the high-voltage retreat ceremony.

There are spontaneous bouts of patriotism displayed by people present on both sides of the border who cheer the two forces during the retreat ceremony by raising slogans.  Most of the visitors on the Pakistan side were schoolchildren brought to witness the ceremony on Sunday evening. “Probably, the authorities across the border wanted to give the impression than nothing is amiss,” said a BSF official, while observing that the attendance on the Pakistan side was unusually thin. 

There were many foreigners including US, Canadian and Nepalese citizens, who reportedly crossed over into the Indian side on Sunday evening. Famous Pakistani theatre personality Madeeha Gohar whose troupe was visiting India to stage a series of plays, returned to Pakistan. The troupe members said they wished to be with their people at the hour of crisis.

However, the truck trade between the two countries which was flagged off only last month appeared to be proceeding smoothly. Twenty two trucks loaded with fresh vegetables and meat crossed over to Pakistan, while seven trucks loaded with dry fruits from Pakistan entered India.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has expressed apprehensions that the border trade between the two countries could be hit due to political events in Pakistan. He stated that Punjab would feel the effect of the Pakistani situation more than other states after the successful start of border trade between the two countries.