LETTER FROM NEW DELHI

In India, it is called Wagah. In Pakistan, Attari. Located in the Punjab region and established at the time of the partition of India in 1947, this border post is the only active land passage between Pakistan and India, straddling a 2,690-kilometer line that spans four states: Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. Since May 1, the Attari-Wagah Border has been closed. No one can cross. Trade has also been halted. Goods coming from Pakistan, as well as from Afghanistan, are blocked.

India locked down its land border after the attack in Kashmir on April 22 against Indian tourists and before launching its military response against its neighbor. After four days of intense fighting, the two belligerents agreed to a ceasefire on May 10, but the border remains shut.

This military outpost, crossed on foot, was until a few days ago the fastest way to reach Pakistan as all direct air links between the two enemy countries have been suspended since 2019 following New Delhi's revocation of the special status granted to Kashmir.

Reaching the Attari-Wagah Border is a long journey from New Delhi. First, one must reach Amritsar, 460 kilometers from the Indian capital, then take a bus or taxi for about 30 kilometers, and finally pass several checkpoints to access the border post.

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