Urdu Report Desk
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced that the national hockey team will not travel to India for the Asian Champions Trophy due to security concerns.
The federation has formally asked the Asian Hockey Federation to move the tournament to a “safe” country.
Tournament Schedule
Six teams, including Pakistan, were scheduled to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy from October 27 to November 5 in the Indian cities of Mohali and Jalandhar.
The decision comes amid continued tensions between Pakistan and India, which have also affected sporting ties between the two countries.
Security Concerns Behind Decision
PHF President Mohiuddin Wani said the decision had been formally conveyed to the Asian Hockey Federation.
In a statement, Wani said that given the sensitive situation between the two countries, the federation did not consider it appropriate to send players to India. He said Pakistan had therefore requested that the event be moved to another safe country.
Pakistan had also withdrawn from last year’s Asia Cup hockey event in India because of security concerns.
Impact on Pakistan-India Hockey Relations
Bilateral sporting ties between Pakistan and India have remained suspended since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. New Delhi had blamed militants operating from across the border for the attacks.
The two nuclear-armed neighbours have continued to face tensions, including a four-day armed confrontation following last year’s attack on tourists in Kashmir.
The latest decision adds another setback to regular sporting exchanges between the two countries.
Mixed Reaction on Social Media
The decision has drawn mixed reactions from Pakistani fans and sports analysts on social media.
Some users supported the federation’s decision on security grounds, while others expressed concern that Pakistan’s continued withdrawal from international events could affect its participation in major hockey tournaments.
Challenge for Asian Hockey Federation
Sports analysts have described the decision as another development in the prolonged disruption of Pakistan-India sporting ties.
They say political and diplomatic tensions between the two countries continue to affect sports, while the Asian Hockey Federation now faces the challenge of determining the tournament’s venue and schedule.
