ISLAMABAD, Feb 19: Pakistan on Wednesday slammed an Indian decision to boycott next month’s South Asian Federation (SAF) Games in Islamabad as an attempt to curtail people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

In a foreign office statement the Indian Minister of State for Sports claimed that security concerns do not allow India to send its contingent to participate in the 9th SAF Games, to be held in Islamabad from March 29 to April 7.

Rejecting it as “spurious argument” the statement said, adding the move was part of “India’s ongoing efforts to drastically curtail people-to-people contacts between the two countries.”

The SAF Games, one of the premier sporting events in the region and usually involving all South Asian states, had earlier been postponed because of the “hostile Indian attitude” it said.

New Delhi has already cut off cricket and hockey links with Pakistan, it added.

The SAF Games were to feature India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Afghanistan as well as hosts Pakistan.

Relations between the rival nuclear neighbours remain tense over the Himalayan state of Kashmir which, claimed by both, has triggered two wars since their independence in 1947.

“The unfortunate decision of the government of India not to allow its athletes to compete in the SAF Games is yet another manifestation of Indian compulsive hostility towards Pakistan,” the statement said.

“It is indeed a sad day for sports.”

Indian Olympic Association chief Suresh Kalmadi said Monday India’s withdrawal from the SAF Games in Pakistan may jeopardise its bid for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

“By not participating in the SAF Games in Islamabad, we are sending the wrong signals to the Olympic community and weakening our bid for the prestigious Commonwealth Games,” Kalmadi said.—AFP