India–Pakistan border


The India–Pakistan border is the international boundary that separates the nations of the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. At its northern end is the Line of Control, which separates Indian-administered Jammu & Kashmir from Pakistani-administered Kashmir; and at its southern end is Sir Creek, a tidal estuary in the Rann of Kutch between the Indian state of Gujarat and the Pakistani province of Sindh.
Arising from the partition of India in 1947, the border covers the provincial boundaries of Gujarat and Rajasthan with Sindh, and the Radcliffe Line between the partitions of Punjab. It traverses a variety of terrain in the northwestern region of the subcontinent, ranging from major urban areas to inhospitable deserts. Since the beginning of the India–Pakistan conflict shortly after the two countries' conjoined independence, it has been the site of numerous cross-border military standoffs and full-scale wars. The border's total length is according to figures given by PBS; it is also ranked as one of the most dangerous international boundaries in the world, based on an article written in Foreign Policy in 2011. During the nighttime, the India–Pakistan border is distinctly visible from outer space due to the 150,000 floodlights installed by India on approximately 50,000 poles.

Sections

The India-Pakistan border includes mutually-recognised International Border and several disputed sections, listed from north to south:
  1. Actual Ground Position Line - separates the current positions of Indian and Pakistani military posts and troops along the long frontline in the disputed region of Siachen Glacier: It runs along the Saltoro Mountains range, beginning from the northernmost point of the at Point NJ 9842 and ending in the north on the Indira Ridge at the India-China-Pakistan LAC tripoint near Sia Kangri about northwest of Indira Col West, with peaks in excess of and temperatures ranging to around. India gained control of of disputed territory in 1984 because of its military operations in Siachen.
  2. Line of Control - separates disputed areas of Indian-administered Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir UT from Pakistani-administered Kashmir: It was demarcated after the 1972 Simla Agreement. Earlier the UN-mediated ceasefire line of 1949 served as the de facto border between the two regions after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, which was revised to a Line of Control after the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
  3. Working Boundary - separates the disputed section of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir from the Pakistani Punjab: It is referred to as a working boundary by the UN, while India regards it as the international border. Pakistani Punjab is internationally recognized as a part of Pakistan by both parties while Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory.
  4. International Boundary or Radcliffe Line - runs from Punjab to Gujarat and Sindh: The demarcated line between the India and Pakistan is recognized by both nations.
  5. Sir Creek - separates southern Gujarat in India from southern Sindh in Pakistan: The long-standing India-Pakistan Sir Creek border dispute stems from the demarcation "from the mouth of Sir Creek to the top of Sir Creek, and from the top of Sir Creek eastward to a point on the line designated on the Western Terminus". From this point onward, the boundary is unambiguously fixed as defined by the Tribunal Award of 1968.

    Barrier

Out of total length of border with Pakistan, Government of India has completely fenced by 2024 and the remaining is covered by physical and non-physical barriers as it is not feasible to fence the entire border due to densely forested rugged mountains, riverine and marshy areas. India has similar fence on borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
In February 2025, India's Central Public Works Department started to construct a 1,450 km long border road along the border barrier across the Indian Punjab and Rajsthan. This will enable the swifter access, strengthen the anti-drug and anti-terrorism patrolling, and act as anti-tunnel mechanism.

Border crossings

At the following border crossing sites and the beating retreat flag ceremonies are jointly held by the military of both nations every day at 6:30 pm, which are open to public as tourist attractions. No special permit or ticket is needed. The ceremony sites are as follows :
  • Punjab, India – Punjab, Pakistan
  • * Attari–Wagah border ceremony near Amritsar in Punjab: The flag lowering ceremony at the village of Wagah is held each evening immediately before sunset by the border agents of Pakistan and India. The ceremony begins with battle calls from both sides in the form of loud screaming done by the border guards. This is followed by a series of organized high kicks, stomps, and dance moves during which the opposing forces stare each other down. The event ends with a handshake of good faith being exchanged by the head guards along with the lowering of the flags. It is symbolic of the brotherhood as well as the rivalry that these two nations share. The border troops are known to exchange sweets with the opposing side during the Muslim holidays of Eid and Hindu holiday of Diwali. It has been a peaceful gathering with the exception of the 2014 Wagah border suicide attack by Islamist terrorists in which 60 people were killed and over 110 people were left injured.
  • * Hussainiwala–Ganda Singh Wala border ceremony near Firozepur in Punjab.
  • * Sadiqui–Sulemanki border ceremony near Fazilka in Punjab.
  • Rajasthan – Sindh
  • * Munabao–Khokhrapar border ceremony in Barmer district in Rajasthan.