Wife’s photo request leads to salute exchange between senior BSF officer, Pakistani ranger

New Delhi: A brief interaction at the Attari-Wagah border has drawn attention after a deputy inspector general of the Border Security Force and a Pakistani ranger were seen exchanging salutes in a widely circulated video. The footage shows the two uniformed personnel maintaining formal military courtesy during an interaction on either side of the India-Pakistan border.

In the video, it can be seen that the wife of the Indian officer asks for a photo from the Pakistani personnel who politely stands up for a picture with her at the Pakistani side of the border. After this, the Indian officer faces him and he salutes back.

The interaction takes place amid strained relations between India and Pakistan diplomatically and militarily owing to recent hostilities. In spite of this, the two military officers are seen practicing military courtesy and saluting each other.

According to video, scene appears to be from the Attari-Wagah border crossing near Amritsar, Punjab, and is consistent with the setting of the daily beating retreat ceremony held there. The ceremony features personnel from the Border Security Force and Pakistan Rangers conducting coordinated ceremonial drills before the national flags are lowered and the border gates are closed.

The Indian officer seen in the video has been identified in social media posts as Colonel Rajendra Bhaduri. He has been described as an Armoured Corps officer who also served as an Army Aviation pilot.

The identity and rank of the Pakistani rangers personnel are not clear from the video and could not be independently verified.

The interaction also highlights the different officer structures of the two forces operating along the border. The Pakistan Rangers is a paramilitary force whose officers are drawn from the regular Pakistani army and serve in command appointments within the organization.

On the Indian side, the BSF has its own cadre of officers, while senior positions can also be held by officers serving on deputation from the Indian Police Service. The difference is relevant when identifying personnel seen during formal border ceremonies, where uniforms and ceremonial roles may not by themselves establish an officer’s exact rank or cadre.

The video does not indicate any political or diplomatic engagement between the two countries. It shows a brief exchange of military courtesy during a formal border ceremony, at a time when relations between New Delhi and Islamabad remain marked by significant differences.

This video has gone viral on social media, with the salute being the highlight of the video. Nevertheless, the date when the video was recorded and the Pakistani soldiers’ ranks have not been verified by an official source.