 The only land crossing between India and Pakistan is at Wagah in Punjab |
 My sword-wielding driver from the Golden Temple in Amritsar |
 Departing Amritsar in the late afternoon for the 30km drive to the border |
 India-Pakistan Border 1 km |
 The minibus I need to find after the Border Closing Ceremony is over |
 PunjabOct11 972.jpg |
 Indian Immigration Checkpost at Wagah - Outgoing |
 Mounted soldiers of the Indian Border Security Force |
 Wagah Border signs |
 Border Security Force India Welcomes You |
 There's a purpose-built stadium on each side of the border for the lowering of the flags ceremony |
 Attari Check Post - established in 1949, 2 years after the partition of India |
 The Gateway of Pakistan |
 BSF Soldier in their dress uniform with the distinctive headdress |
 Gandhi looks down from the India Gate at Wagah |
 The crowd of spectators on the Indian side of the border |
 The twin fences at the border remain closed while the crowd settles in |
 Indian BSF Soldier at fence |
 Jawan - BSF infantryman |
 There's a much smaller crowd on the Pakistan side with the men segregated from the women and children |
 The women's grandstand on the Pakistan side of the border |
 The crowd of Indian spectators - foreigners and VIPs get seated closer to the fence |
 An Indian soldier watches over the scene from atop the Gateway of India |
 Badge of the Border Security Force of India |
 The action starts with two female Indian soldiers marching towards the fence |
 There were no female Pakistani Rangers on the other side |
 Quick march by female members of the India Border Security Force |
 The next two BSF soldiers quick march |
 Pakistani Rangers line the balcony of the Gate of Pakistan below the portrait of Jinnah |
 Getting ready to open the border |
 The Pakistani side of the Wagah Border |
 The officer in charge of the ceremony on the Indian side |
 Parade of India BSF soldiers with fast arm swinging march |
 These soldiers must be hand picked for their size |
 The best seats right up next to the fence - VIP invitation required |
 Reviewing the troops |
 Indian soldier in parade dress uniform |
 Once everyone is in position, the gates are opened |
 The gates separating India and Pakistan are open |
 Turbaned BSF officer |
 Military display at the Wagah Border |
 A bit of British military tradition persist |
 The next day, this officer was at the desk for the last check as I crossed into Pakistan |
 The flag of Pakistan prepares to be lowered at sunset |
 Impressive high kicks by the BSF soldiers |
 Wagah Border Ceremony |
 The Pakistani Rangers make much better use of their gate than the BSF |
 The Pakistani spectators - a small turnout |
 The Indian spectators - full house |
 Indian spectators trying to get a view of the flag lowering ceremony |
 Sunset at the Wagah Border |
 Both sides ready to lower the flags |
 The flags are lowered simultaneously as sunset nears |
 The flags of India and Pakistan cross as they are lowered at the end of the day |
 Flags of India and Pakistan - Wagah flag lowering ceremony |
 Gandhi looks on from the Gateway of India |
 The flags are then folded with military precision |
 The BSF officer carries the flag of India back to the barracks with arms extended |
 The flag being carried away with reverence |
 Wagah Border Ceremony |
 Preparing to close the gates for the night |
 The Indian crowd presses forward - hopefully there's not an Indian invasion of Pakistan tonight |
 A Pakistani Ranger glances over as the crowd advances from the Indian side |
 High kicks from the Pakistani side as well |
 Pakistan Rangers and the Border Security Force of India |
 Wagah Border Ceremony |
 Wagah Border Ceremony |
 The Indian spectators crowd forward passing my position |
 The handshake between the Indian and Pakistani commanders marks the end of the border ceremony |
 Handshake between Indian and Pakistani soldiers at the border |
 The gates close, once again cutting off India and Pakistan |
 The gates are closed just in time as the crowd pushes ahead |
 Photo-op for kids with BSF soldiers after the ceremony |
 Border Security Force Amritsar |
 Border Security Force office, Wagah |
 BSF sentry |
 The Indian crowd heads back to Amritsar |
 Even after the ceremony, it's tough to get right up to the gate |
 Pakistan - see you tomorrow |
 Decorations on top of the gate |
 End of the ceremony |
 Gateway of India - Wagah |
 30 km in the dark back to Amritsar |