Amritsar, May 21 -- After nearly two weeks, the beating retreat ceremony was on Tuesday resumed at the Attari-Wagah joint check post on India-Pakistan border, but no handshake took place between the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Pakistan Rangers during the flag-lowering ceremony.

Visitors were allowed but their presence was low. It was 20% of the average footfall in the spectator galleries as a sizeable portion was empty. On Pakistan's side, the galleries had no visitor as the few present there appeared to be labourers working at the check post.

Apart from no handshake, gates on the zero line also remained closed. Both the developments are materialising since April 24, when the ceremonial display by the BSF at the retreat ceremony...