ISLAMABAD, March 5: Lt Gen Syed Arif Hasan said on Wednesday that India’s decision to stay away from the SAF Games does not mean Pakistan would not compete in this year’s Afro-Asian Games in that country.

The head of the SAF Games Organising Committee (SGOC) told journalists at the Gun Club that if one country did a wrong, it was not necessary that the other did the same.

India has refused to take part in the March 29 to April 7 Games in Islamabad. But Arif said that although they had not intimated the SGOC officially of their decision, they would be welcomed even at a late hour.

“The POA (Pakistan Olympic Association) recently spoke to the president of the Indian Olympic Association Suresh Kalmadi who is said to be trying his level best to persuade his government to take part in the Games.”

Pakistan decided on Tuesday to go ahead with the regional event even without India after Arif met President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali.

“Both of them felt that it was not a right decision by India not to compete and said that politics should not be mixed with sports.”

All the other countries - Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives have reconfirmed that they will be attending the Games. “All of them have sent their ‘by name’ entries.”

Referring to the current Iraq crisis, the general said that although Pakistan were preparing as planned to host the Games, it was difficult to say at this point of time what the international situation would be in the days to come. “If the air routes are not affected in case of a US-led war on Iraq, there shouldn’t be any problems.”

Pakistan have had to postpone the SAF Games twice, first because of the events following 9/11 and then again because of heightened tension with India. Originally this 9th edition was take place in October 2001.

Meanwhile Arif disclosed that the SGOC had earned revenues of over Rs 200m from its Hero Card and SAF Postcards prize schemes.