Pakistan says Indian tour in the balance (18 December 1998)

18 December 1998

Pakistan says Indian tour in the balance

AFP

NEW DELHI, Dec 18 (AFP) - Pakistan cricket chief Khalid Mahmood has warned that a planned tour of India next month may yet be called off amid threats of violence from Hindu hardliners.

A firebrand Hindu leader in Bombay - the centre of Indian cricket - has urged Hindus to "rise up" and scuttle the 10-week tour because of Islamabad's alleged support for militant groups in India.

Mahmood, who was in New Delhi on Thursday to seek guarantees for his players' safety, said the tour had been saved only by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's personal promise to protect the visitors.

"However, the possibility of cancellation would remain if the threats continue," Mahmood was quoted as saying by the Asian Age newspaper.

"I would describe the situation as fragile," said Mahmood, who is chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan.

"We will need more assurances. Any more vociferous anti-Pakistani statements can certainly have a bearing on the tour."

Mahmood's remarks were clearly aimed at Bal Thackeray, head of the Hindu militant Shiv Sena party which controls the western state of Maharashtra.

Thackeray bitterly opposes the Pakistan tour, especially the idea of a Test match in Bombay which is the capital of Maharashtra state.

"There are no compromises on this. This is an issue of patriotism. My party activists are very resolute," he said recently.

The Shiv Sena is bitterly anti-Muslim and was accused by human rights groups of killing Moslems during sectarian riots in Bombay in 1992-3.

The Pakistani team is due to play a three-match Test series and three limited overs games against India during their tour - the first in India for 11 years.

"We should be made to feel welcome," Mahmood said.

Source :: AFP