ISLAMABAD: Tensions between India and Pakistan spilled over into the sporting realm on Monday when Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan opposed the idea of sending the cricket team across the border.

Saying that the Indian government was patronising the terrorist activities of Shiv Sena, the interior minister added, “This is not about money; it’s an issue that involves Pakistan’s dignity and honour. Though the final decision is to be taken by the prime minister, I will oppose any tour to India under the present circumstances if it comes under discussion at a cabinet meeting or some other forum.”

The minister said that he would also call for Shiv Sena to be declared a terrorist outfit by international forums.

The Indian government and its agents have ridiculed Pakistan sufficiently and the treatment meted out to Shahryar Khan, Najam Sethi, Ghulam Ali and Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri was an example of that, he said. “If the Indian government is not behind this, it should tell the world what action had been taken against such people,” he remarked.

Prime minister will have final say on series in India

Those who had blackened the faces of progressive individuals, he said, had black hearts and dangerous objectives. There should be no visit to India “until their hearts are clear”, he added.

“They are pursuing an anti-Pakistan agenda and do not want to see any Pakistani visiting India, whether it is for political contacts, fine arts or sports. We should forget about this exercise in futility,” he remarked.

He claimed that when something happened in Pakistan, it was blown out of proportion, but even the most terrible of occurrences in India were swept under the carpet.

Separately, a spokesperson for the PM Office told Dawn that the PCB had been formally told three days ago that since the Indo-Pak cricket issue had become politicised, no decision should be taken without prior approval of the prime minister.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2015