For the past few years, the Union government has been firm on not resuming cricket or sport ties with Pakistan. Even today our Sports Minister had categorically declared that cricket cannot be played between India and Pakistan when terrorism has not stopped. The decision to suspend cricket with Pakistan has always been widely welcomed. In the wake of deadly terror attacks, engineered by none other than Pakistan, all Indians justified this decision. However, it seems that the match in the Champion Trophy event will be played against Pakistan on June 4th which also needs to be stopped.
Those wanting cricket to be played, do not show any concern over the “mini-war” that has been thrust upon us by Pakistan and killing of innocent civilians by the Pak-sponsored militants, that has been going on for decades. In fact for the last few months there has been unprovoked firing and violation of LOC from the Pakistan side, infiltration of terrorists aided by their army , funding of “separatists” in Kashmir to carry out mass violence and stone pelting, brutal killing of our soldiers and so on. There has been no positive and concrete steps taken by our neighbour to stop terrorism.
People say, “Sports and politics should not be mixed….”! But, as far as sports with Pakistan is concerned, they are certainly never played in the true spirit. A match with Pakistan — be it hockey or cricket — is literally seen as a war, the ground being the battlefield!
How then will playing cricket help? Even while cricket is played killings would go unabatedly and there would be plans for more terror attacks on India. How can we enjoy a game at the cost of the lives of our own countrymen and brave jawans who defend the borders for our safety?
In fact cricket between these nations, is never witnessed in a sporting manner whether it is played in England, Dubai or even Toronto!
There is still a section of people in our own country who cheer for Pakistani team and burst crackers when they win ! Why encourage this “cricket war” too?
Every now and then, both the governments decide to have talks on peace and to stop terrorism; and such talks have been going on for years and decades. All they decide in every such talk, is just to have another rounds of talks and meeting a couple of months or a year hence! In the meantime, terror and “border-attacks” are openly carried out.
Till we see total cooperation from Pakistan in smashing those terrorists’ camps and till we have totally peaceful days in the entire nation, without any terror attack or a ceasefire violation, we should not have any relationship with Pakistan. In fact isolate Pakistan with no bilateral and cultural ties, no buses/trains, no sports no economic ties, no diplomatic relationships etc. India will remain stronger.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
