Border bonhomie at Baba Chamliyal fair

Amir Karim Tantray

Tribune News Service

Chamliyal, June 22

The shrine of Baba Chamliyal on the International Border (IB) here today brought together the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistani Rangers. Officers of both forces met for over one and a half hours near the Zero Line on the Indian side here and exchanged gifts.

A 31-member Pakistani delegation, including the Pakistan Rangers and civil administration officials, offered a ‘chaddar’ at the shrine on behalf of people of Saidawali village and other villages on the Pakistani side. The delegation was led by sector commander Brigadier Amjad Hussain.

The Indian delegation was led by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the BSF PS Dhiman.

The Pakistani delegation was received at the Zero Line by a BSF Commandant as per the tradition of the force and a guard of honour was presented to Brigadier Amjad Hussain. 

During the meeting, the delegates from both sides exchanged pleasantries and greetings. Brigadier Amjad Hussain handed over a beautifully decorated “chaddar” to DIG Dhiman to be offered at the shrine as a mark of reverence. In return, BSF officers gave “shakkar” and “sharbat” to the Pakistan Rangers for distribution to devotees in Pakistan. 

During the meeting, both sides promised each other to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border.

The Pakistani delegation, which included Pakistan Rangers, civil administration officers, prominent civilians and mediapersons, clicked pictures and shared lighter moments with the BSF men. 

“The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and we confined it to the Baba Chamliyal mela only. We didn’t discuss issues related to the ceasefire violation as today was not the occasion to do that,” the BSF DIG told mediapersons after the meeting.

The Baba Chamliyal shrine is situated around 300 metres into the side on the International Border in Chamliyal village of the Ramgarh sector.

Hundreds of devotees offer prayers at the shrine on the fourth Thursday of June every year, which is celebrated as the Chamliyal mela. Devotees also gather on the other side of the border in Saidawali village to celebrate this day. 

While a nine-member Pakistani media team was allowed to sit inside the tent where the delegations from both countries were seated, mediapersons from this side were given only five minutes to click photographs and asked to move out. 

The mediapersons from this side were not allowed to interact with the Pakistani delegation. Till a few years ago, mediapersons were allowed to interact with the Pakistani delegation but the practice has been stopped.

Mark of respect

Respecting the holy month of Ramazan, the BSF, which hosted a Pakistan Rangers delegation on Thursday during the annual Baba Chamliyal mela, had not kept water or any food item on display during the meeting.