Hours before the inauguration of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai on Thursday, Pakistan pulled out of the prestigious event protesting against the passing of the torch relay for the event through Kashmir.
Criticising Pakistan for this move, India said it is “highly unfortunate” that Islamabad has “politicised” the prestigious international event. The Pakistani team had already reached India.
Citing India’s torch relay for the prestigious event through Kashmir on July 21 as a reason for withdrawal, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said in a statement to Radio Pakistan, “India chose to politicise this prestigious international sporting event.”
He also said, “Pakistan was invited by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to participate in the Chess Olympiad. A Pakistani contingent was already training for this event.”
An official statement from Islamabad described the torch relay through Kashmir as a “travesty” and called upon India to free political prisoners in the valley.
“Pakistan condemns India’s mischievous attempt to mix politics with sports.
“As a protest, Pakistan has decided not to participate in the 44th Chess Olympiad and will also raise the matter with the international Chess Federation at the highest level,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the statement. The torch relay passed through Kashmir’s capital Srinagar on June 21.
Reacting to Pakistan’s decision, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it was surprising that Pakistan has suddenly taken the decision not to participate in the event.
It is highly unfortunate that Pakistan has politicised the prestigious international event by making such statements and withdrawing its participation after its team has already reached India, he said. Bagchi was responding to questions on Pakistan’s decision to pull out from the Olympiad, citing the torch relay of the event passing through Jammu and Kashmir. On this, Bagchi asserted that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh “have been, are and will remain an integral part of India.”