LAHORE: The display of a large photograph of the late Kashmiri leader Syed Ali Gilani at the Wagah-Attari border has caused discontent among the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
The image of Gilani, a prominent pro-freedom figure in Kashmir, was recently mounted near the site of the daily flag-lowering ceremony on the Pakistani side of the border, an action that has not gone unnoticed by BSF officials.
A senior BSF official, speaking to The New Indian Express on condition of anonymity, criticized the placement of the photograph in an area typically reserved for regimental and ceremonial purposes, suggesting that it should not be used for political statements.
The official remarked, “This act appears to be an attempt to leverage the high-profile location to influence visitors attending the Beat-the-Retreat ceremony, an established military tradition marking the end of the official day. The photograph’s placement is clearly intended to underscore the Kashmir issue and escalate tensions.”
Another BSF official echoed these concerns, indicating that the move could be seen as a tactic to draw international attention to the Kashmir issue.
On the Pakistani side, the display is being interpreted as a show of solidarity with the Kashmiri struggle for freedom from what Pakistan regards as Indian oppression in the region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
