Parliament warns Pak over Afzal resolution; hockey series is off

Government sources said the decision to cancel the hockey series was taken a few days ago and the external affairs ministrys opinion on this was not linked to the Afzal Guru resolution or the militant attack in Srinagar this week.

The MEA,they said,felt that the timing for such a series was not right due to upcoming elections in Pakistan. The governments decision to cancel it was also based on inputs from the home ministry and intelligence agencies,they added.

The Pakistani assembly resolution,however,came in for strong condemnation in Parliament with members calling it an act of Pakistans support for extremist and terrorist elements.

The House rejects interference in the internal affairs of India and calls upon the National Assembly of Pakistan to desist from such acts of support for extremist and terrorist elements, said a resolution adopted by both Houses of Parliament after the opposition BJP mounted pressure on the government to send a strong signal to Islamabad.

The resolution also reminded Islamabad that peaceful relations between the two countries were contingent upon fulfillment of Pakistans commitment that it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against India.

The House notes that Pakistan has committed that it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against India and only fulfillment of this commitment can be the basis for peaceful relations with Pakistan, the resolution said.

The House reiterates that the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir including the territory under illegal occupation of Pakistan is and shall always be an integral part of India, it said,reminding Pakistan that any attempt from any quarter to interference in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely and with complete unity of our nation.

Referring to the hockey series being cancelled,Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra said the dignity of the country came first and Pakistans participation in the junior World Cup,scheduled to be held in New Delhi in December,is a matter between Pakistan and the FIH.

We were informed of the decision by the government this morning. Its unfortunate but we support the decision. There is no problem in playing bilateral series but the respect and dignity of the country comes first. If the political establishment of that country is not going to respect us,then there is no question of all these things, Batra said.

The government hasnt given any specific reason as to why the tour has been cancelled. But we support the decision considering what has transpired over the last two days. After the terror attacks in Srinagar and their stand on Afzal Guru,its obvious and logical the tour is cancelled, Batra added.

India were due to host Pakistan for a five-match series from April 5 to 15. The return leg of the series was to be held from April 23 to May 2 in four Pakistani cities.

The Pakistani assembly resolution was severely criticised by the BJP,with party president Rajnath Singh saying Pakistan had crossed all boundaries in its diplomatic dealings with India and described the resolution as proof of the Pakistani states association with terrorist groups.

In a statement from Jaipur,where he is attending a RSS conclave,Singh demanded a resolution in Parliament to counter Pakistan and suggested the government scale down diplomatic relations with the neighbour.

In the Lok Sabha,BJP MP Yashwant Sinha described Pakistans move as an attack on India,while leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley called it an official stamp of approval to one of the worst terrorist attacks that took place in India. Jaitley suggested that Pakistan did not deserve India walking even an extra yard in bilateral relations.

BJP leaders also attacked the UPA government for mollycoddling Pakistan and being kicked around in Male,Rome and Islamabad and demanded a discussion on foreign policy in Parliament.