ISLAMABAD Pakistan refused to clear the national junior squash team on Friday to travel to India for the Asian Junior championship amid heightened tension between the two countries.
Pakistan's sports minister Pir Aftab Shah Jilani cited security issues for barring both the junior squash team and national senior hockey team's travel to India.
'We sought advice from the external ministry and took the decision that it's not advisable to send the teams to India over security fears,' Jilani said.
Pakistans squash team was due to defend its team and individual titles in the championships to be held in Chennai from January 16-23.
Since the Mumbai attacks in November, relations between the south Asian rivals have taken a dip.
New Delhi refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan and the January-February series was cancelled.
Jilani said if situation improved ties may be revived.
'Once we have normalcy in the situation between the two countries, we can have a review of our participation in the sporting events in India,' said Jilani.
In 2015, the parliament had decided to “maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis”.
