"The Wagah border had become his home, and everybody here was his family, " said one border guard, Asim.

BBC: Lahore roundabout sparks battle of identity in Pakistan

At the Wagah border checkpoint in Punjab, picnicking families gather to gape and wave to Pakistanis waving back from the other side of the barbed wire.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia

With a distinctive white beard, for years he was regularly seen at Pakistan's Wagah border crossing with India holding a Pakistani flag and wearing colour-co-ordinated clothing as the famous ceremony was played out each day.

BBC: Lahore roundabout sparks battle of identity in Pakistan

The visas would only be available at the Wagah land border crossing near Lahore, and would be issued every day between 10:00 IST (04:30 GMT) and 16:00 IST (11:30 GMT).

BBC: India puts visa deal with Pakistani on hold

Rajdeep Uppal, an Amritsar-based merchant who has operated across the border for 15 years, helped lead a four-year campaign for the new Wagah post.

ECONOMIST: India-Pakistan relations: Make lolly, not war | The