At Border of 2 Nuclear-Armed Nations: Machine Guns, Anxiety and Dancing

Every evening along the India-Pakistan border, the two sides stage enormous nationalistic pep rallies, whose highlight is a military “stomp-off.”

An Indian soldier, left, facing off with a Pakistani soldier during the daily flag-lowering ceremony at the India-Pakistan Wagah Border on Friday Sept 28, 2019.

The Indian border stadium (back) and the Pakistani border stadium (front).

Pakistani soldiers, with backs to camera, facing their Indian counterparts at the Wagah-Attari border.

Pakistanis watch the ceremony from their side of the border.

Indian soldiers stand guard during the ceremonial flag lowering.

An official checks the passport of a Pakistani citizen crossing into India at the Wagah-Attari border.

Indian fans watch the flag lowering ceremony at the Wagah-Attari border between Pakistan and India in Lahore, Pakistan on Friday Sept 27, 2019.

A Pakistani soldier performs a high kick during the ceremony.