Tit-for-tat!
In what can be seen as a tit-for-tat response, Pakistan is likely to pull out from upcoming sporting events in India, who last week called off its cricket team's tour across the border following the Mumbai terror attacks.
Statements by Pakistan's Sports Minister Pir Aftab Shah Jillani and Federal Secretary of Sports Ashraf Khan expressing serious doubts over their national teams' tour to India in the current political scenario has raised speculation of a freeze in sporting ties between the two countries.
They said that sensing the volatile situation, it is highly unlikely that the governement would allow sportspersons to visit India for international events.
Pakistan is scheduled to take part in a four-nation hockey series to be played in Chandigarh and Jalandhar next February after it's squash team has a chance to defend Asian junior title in Chennai on January 16.
"There is pressure on the government from different quarters not to allow our teams to go to India. There is also a feeling our teams will face security threats in India in the existing tense conditions," the Sports Minister said.
Jillani said the Sports Ministry had sought advice from the foreign office on the matter.
"In the existing situation, the Sports Ministry is not the competent authority to take a decision. We are keeping all our options open but the indications are it might not be possible to send our teams to India until things improve," he said.
Comments