Two-member security assessment team granted Indian visa ahead of World T20

ISLAMABAD: The Indian high commission on Sunday issued visas to a two-member Pakistani security team which will assess the security situation in the neighbouring country ahead of the Pakistan cricket team's visit there for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 event.

"All arrangements are complete for the security team to leave for India on Monday," said a statement by the Pakistan interior ministry.

"The security team comprises three members — Director FIA Usman Anwar and Col. Azam from the Ministry of Interior will leave from Pakistan while the third member will join them from the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi."

"The team will meet the Chief Minister Himachal Pradesh and the state police chief and will prepare a report which will be sent to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar," the statement added.

Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said a day ago that a security team had been constituted and will depart on Monday for India, to ensure that the Pakistani cricket team is provided complete security while participating in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup.

He elaborated and said, "I have asked the PCB chairman to wait, and the team can wait until the security clearance is assured."

Nisar said that it is the responsibility of the Indian government to ensure security of the Pakistani team, as the world cup is an international tournament, and India should ensure that security is provided to all participants.

The team will hold meetings with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and will also meet senior Indian security officials to ensure security for the Pakistan team.

The government of the northern state of Himachal Pradesh refused to provide security for the upcoming World T20 tie, citing a January attack on an Indian army base.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said last Sunday that the match should be moved to another venue out of respect for the “martyrs” killed in the assault by militants on an Indian air force base in neighbouring Punjab.

He has threatened not to provide security for Pakistan's players at the Himachal Pradesh cricket ground in the Himalayan town of Dharamsala where the clash is due to take place.

The Pakistan cricket team are scheduled to kick off their World T20 campaign on March 16 at Kolkata before they travel to Dharamsala for the high-profile encounter with arch-rivals India.

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Dr Qureshi

Mar 06, 2016 03:43pm

Pak should pull out of WC. Whole nation is being humiliated. The event will flop without Pak.

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ZIDANE

Mar 06, 2016 03:55pm

PCB forced ICC for a neutral venue for Pak matches. Indian states refused to given security for Pak team and their threaten Pak team. Now, there is no reason left to go India.

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Mrs. Phannay Khan

Mar 06, 2016 04:10pm

I am pretty sure security is alright. The problem is that the host state government responsible for providing it is refusing to. If they are able to guarantee that best possible security will be provided to Pakistan team then yes - otherwise no need to send the team. As Afridi once said and everyone in Pakistani media castigated him - some Indians do indeed have extremely small hearts.

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Mar 06, 2016 04:30pm

If security team is not satisfied with Indian security plan then all venues of Pakistan matches be shifted to Sri Lanka. This is the best possible option available at the moment.

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Ali

Mar 06, 2016 04:37pm

Pakistan should refuse to play in india like the rest of the teams refused to play in pakistan due to security concerns. But how... who has self respect in pakistan?

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Hitman

Mar 06, 2016 05:12pm

Next time BCCI should never ever hold any cricket matches in Dharamsala Dharamsala should be banned from any Domestic as well as International Matches If Himachal cannot hold matches then why couldn't they inform months back? BCCI must keep all the matches in South India where its safe for all the players

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Badami

Mar 06, 2016 05:18pm

Pakistan now has legitimate grounds to force ICC to shift our matches to a neutral venue after all this saga. There is a serious security threat to our national players in India. If the ICC doesn't look into our concerns then we should simply walk out of this tournament. Players safety should be the utmost priority, game is secondary.

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Mar 06, 2016 05:20pm

We all know the reason why HP CM is refusing. Without Pakistan at WC, cricket commentary will highlight the reason to the world.

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A.JABBAR KERALA

Mar 06, 2016 05:41pm

Now Pakistani Security Team is going to have a meeting with Chief Minister and Police chief. Let them decide and make the recommendation. No point in arguing here in the media. Hope everything will come solved. Good Luck Pakistan.

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Fiz

Mar 06, 2016 05:44pm

Let's drop the drama. Pak team should not participate in ICC T20 tournament and let India explain to the world the reason.

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M.Saeed

Mar 06, 2016 05:50pm

@B : Much before that, Pakistan should beat the hell out of those making it their own glory by calling ICC to proscribe India from staging any International tournament, for making such threats.

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Roussou

Mar 06, 2016 05:54pm

Indians are playing mind games to bring our team under pressure psychologically before the tournament. Let's puncture their balloon and don't go. That way they will not get the euphoria dose of beating us.

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Mar 06, 2016 06:09pm

all this drama of going /not going is because we know for sure we will loose as always. just fooling the fools, I presume.

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Mar 06, 2016 06:11pm

drama created to fudge the lose we will meet like all previous time at the hands of mighty world no 1

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Shehzad

Mar 06, 2016 06:51pm

I guess hospitality is not one of their strong points.

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Abraham haque

Mar 06, 2016 09:03pm

@Dr Qureshi looking at their performance at Asia cup it is just an eccuse not to lose

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Abdulla Hussain

Mar 06, 2016 10:10pm

It is now not security alone, it is also the insulting language used by the Chief Minister against Pakistan. The venue should be shifted to kolkata, comparatively a friendly city.

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Krana

Mar 06, 2016 10:14pm

This Congress party is playing game, this state is ruled by Congress and much safer place then other part.

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bharat

Mar 06, 2016 11:06pm

Pakistan should not come.The congress cannot bare good relations between the two countries and is resorting to cheap tactics.

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Bipul

Mar 06, 2016 11:25pm

Till Indians don't root out congress politicians, this kind of anti-national politics will prevail. At this moment I support Pakistan's stand as this congress CM has taken an absurd stand. If Pakistan refuses to play, it will be a hard slap on him and Indians will be thankful for that. And when that happens, Pakistan should get full points equivalent to win and Indian team should get zero.

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COMMANDER

Mar 07, 2016 12:16am

Show some self-respect

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GHOUSE Shaikh

Mar 07, 2016 01:37am

Maybe the Indians will do the Pakistani Team a "Favor" and "Take Care"of a Few Pakistani Players and Coaches. Think of this as Blessing in Disguise!

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East Indian

Mar 07, 2016 03:17am

By the way, Dharmsala is a top tourist destination at this time, Buddhist city and his highness Tibetan exiled govt and Dalai lama is there. So the city itself a must visiting place and of course the security can be checked while visiting the city.

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Mar 07, 2016 09:10am

These two guys from Pakistan cannot do any kadoo for security available or no available. Pakistan will never learn to carry on with respect and dignity.

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