AITA seeks fresh security check in Islamabad

India’s participation in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group 1 tie, scheduled in Islamabad on September 14 and 15, is uncertain owing to high political tension with Pakistan. Pakistan has downgraded diplomatic ties with India after provisions of Article 370 were done away with and the state was turned into a Union Territory.

“We are aware that you had done a safety check before the diplomatic ties were downgraded. ITF (International Tennis Federation) may find it appropriate to do another check to its own satisfaction to ensure the safety of all the stakeholders connected with the tie,” All India Tennis Association (AITA) Secretary Hironmoy Chatterjee wrote in a mail addressed to ITF Executive Director Justine Albert.

Chatterjee had earlier stated that the AITA might seek a change of venue given the political tension. “AITA is, therefore, waiting for your (ITF) final certificate confirming the safety and the details of the security plan, so that we can start preparing for the trip,” he said in the latest letter.

The AITA remarked it would go by the directives of the ITF. The letter comes on a day when Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju made it clear that the government will not have a say in the matter as Davis Cup is not a bilateral engagement.

No Indian Davis Cup team has travelled to Pakistan since 1964. Since 2017, Pakistan has played four of its five home ties in Islamabad, hosting Korea, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Iran. The last time Pakistan played on a neutral venue was when it hosted China in Colombo in 2016.