ISLAMABAD, March 30: Sporting ties will ease friction between nuclear rivals Pakistan and India and should not suffer because of tension between the South Asian neighbours, India’s Olympic chief said Saturday.

“I strongly feel that sporting relations will help ease whatever political tension exists between Pakistan and India and whatever be the political scenario, sports should go on,” Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi told AFP.

The IOA president was speaking while on a three-day visit to Pakistan to attend an executive committee meeting of the Ninth South Asian Federation Games.

He also held talks to discuss the possibility of reviving sporting contacts between India and Pakistan.

“Both Pakistan and India should now go step-by-step and I am here as the first step and the process should be furthered by mutual cooperation,” he said.

When asked if he saw any chance of India playing a commemorative Test against Pakistan in October this year, Kalmadi declined to comment.

“It’s too early to say and when I return home Sunday morning I will give a report of my tour to the sports ministry and hope that some positives would come out.”

Pakistan’s Cricket Board has plans to invite India to play a commemorative Test to mark the 50th anniversary of the first ever India-Pakistan Test played in 1952-53.

India is also scheduled to tour Pakistan in April-May next year which, if it goes ahead, would be their first full Test tour of the country since 1989-90.

Kalmadi added that he believed the Ninth South Asian Federation Games, which were Saturday rescheduled from March 29 to April 17 next year, would open the door for a renewal of sporting ties.

“After meeting with Pakistan Olympic Association officials we mutually agree that regular meets like athletics, football, hockey, kabbadi and cricket should be held,” Kalmadi said.

Pakistan and India revived their cross-border hockey series in 1998 but this was terminated the following year following an outbreak in hostilities.

Kalmadi also held discussions with Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia on Friday.

“Overall it was a fruitful tour and I hope results will come,” he added.—AFP