BSF commandant Murari P Singh and Pakistani Wing Commander Afzal Mehmood Chaudhary shake hands at a meeting. Tribune Photo

Fazilka, December 23

To welcome the New Year, the security forces of India and Pakistan have decided to conduct the Retreat with a ceremonial parade daily till January 1. Official sources said that this was decided in a flag meeting between the officials of the two countries. The Indian side was led by Border Security Force Commandant Murari Prasad Singh and the Pakistani side by Wing Commander Afzal Mehmood Chaudhary. The meeting was held in Pakistan territory. Border Security Force officials exhorted the residents, particularly schoolchildren, to come to Joint Check Post, Sadiqi, to witness the flag-lowering ceremony. The two sides reportedly discussed various means to maintain peace at the international border. — OC