<p>BSF, which guards the country's border with Pakistan and Bangladesh, appointed women constables last year to perform duty on the International Border.<br />But their role was confined to routine patrolling and managing crowds.<br /><br />"Women constables were inducted into the frontier force for the first time in the history but only on an experimental basis," BSF DIG Mohammad Aquil said.<br />On their new role at the Beating Retreat Ceremony which draws large crowds during sunset everyday, Aquil said, "We would watch for a few days the performance of women. It is a very hard job and if they feel comfortable and don't receive any injury, only then they would be allowed to continue," he said.<br /><br />Women are assigned to lead the ceremony by marching towards the iron international gate, where the flag posts of India and Pakistan are located.<br />The decision to depute women constables comes in the wake of the border guarding forces on the two sides agreeing to tone down their aggressive postures at the ceremony.<br /><br />Earlier Pakistan Rangers was adamant to continue the parade with red eyes in aggressive gesture and show thumb to the Indian forces, whereas the BSF shunned the practice long back.<br /><br />The ceremony during which Indian and Pakistani flags are lowered just before sunset has been an attraction for years. Though it is a symbolic un-hoisting of flags, the drill had earned the tag of being one of the most aggressive of its kind. <br /></p>
<p>BSF, which guards the country's border with Pakistan and Bangladesh, appointed women constables last year to perform duty on the International Border.<br />But their role was confined to routine patrolling and managing crowds.<br /><br />"Women constables were inducted into the frontier force for the first time in the history but only on an experimental basis," BSF DIG Mohammad Aquil said.<br />On their new role at the Beating Retreat Ceremony which draws large crowds during sunset everyday, Aquil said, "We would watch for a few days the performance of women. It is a very hard job and if they feel comfortable and don't receive any injury, only then they would be allowed to continue," he said.<br /><br />Women are assigned to lead the ceremony by marching towards the iron international gate, where the flag posts of India and Pakistan are located.<br />The decision to depute women constables comes in the wake of the border guarding forces on the two sides agreeing to tone down their aggressive postures at the ceremony.<br /><br />Earlier Pakistan Rangers was adamant to continue the parade with red eyes in aggressive gesture and show thumb to the Indian forces, whereas the BSF shunned the practice long back.<br /><br />The ceremony during which Indian and Pakistani flags are lowered just before sunset has been an attraction for years. Though it is a symbolic un-hoisting of flags, the drill had earned the tag of being one of the most aggressive of its kind. <br /></p>