In protest of India’s “mischievous attempt” to ix politics with sports, Pakistan has decided not to participate in the 44th Chess Olympiad being held in India.
“Pakistan will also raise the matter with the International Chess Federation at the highest level,” the Foreign Office said in a statement on Thursday.
Pakistan was invited by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to participate in the 44th Chess Olympiad scheduled to be held in Chennai, India, from July 28 to August 10. A Pakistani contingent was already training for this event.
The Foreign Office said, “Regrettably, India has chosen to politicize this prestigious international sporting event by passing the torch relay of this event through the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK),” it said. The torch relay passed through Srinagar on June 21.
The FO said by passing the torch relay through IIOJK, in utter disregard of the globally acknowledged “disputed” status of the territory, India had committed a travesty that the international community cannot accept under any circumstances.—NNI
