Beating the retreat (forces retiring in the evening) has been a major tourist attraction. Even during the Indo-Pak wars, the drill continued daily barring a few exceptions.

Union Home Minister L K Advani would lay the foundation stone for the visitors' gallery on March 6. The Pakistan government is understood to have been informed of the move.

This, incidentally, would be Advani's second visit to Wagha border ever since he took charge of the Home Ministry. But in many respect, it would be vastly different from the first visit.

Advani's first appearance at Wagha border was accompanied by tough posturing; that was the time the Home Minister was busy expounding the virtues ofhis pro-active approach against Kashmir militants. The scenario, however, will be different this time. If visitors' gallery can be taken as a symbol, then Advani's visit will be viewed as a pro-active approach in bringing bring down hostilities between India and Pakistan.