12 June 2004	Saturday	23 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

NEW DELHI, June 11: India and Pakistan are to tighten sporting ties after the successful cricket series between the two countries earlier this year. Indian and Pakistani Olympic associations who met on Friday decided to focus on up to six specific sports and exchange coaches to help each other boost standards.

A formal agreement will come later and a sports meeting will be organised between the Punjab regions on both sides of the border from Dec 5-11. "Our friendship is very important and participation between the two countries will be more economical (than travelling further abroad to compete)," Latif Butt, secretary-general of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) told reporters. "Our government is also very keen."

India and Pakistan stood on the brink of war in 2002 as tension rose over the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir but those fears have since eased and relations warmed.

In March, the cricket-mad countries played their first full series in nearly 14 years after India lifted a ban on bilateral games, allowing its team to travel to Pakistan.

Hockey officials of both countries are set to revive a home-and-away series for the first time since 1999 while the POA has pledged support for India's bid to host the 2014 Asian Games and the 2016 Olympics. "You will see Pakistan standing shoulder to shoulder with India," Butt said. -Reuters