The government of Pakistan has expressed concern over the security of the national team during the forthcoming hockey World Cup 2010, saying that it would be giving top priority to the matter before issuing a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the squad to participate in the event, slated to be held in India from February 28 to March 13.
Pakistan qualified for the quadrennial spectacle only recently when they won the qualifiers in Lille, France, earlier this month.

“Both countries (Pakistan and India) have witnessed turbulent diplomatic ties during the last several decades and especially after the Mumbai terror attacks.

However, we will have to assess the security situation in India through our High Commission in New Delhi before sending the squad to the host country,” a senior federal official told Dawn on Thursday.

Sport, particularly cricket and hockey, has suffered due to the strained relations between the two countries in the recent past.

The Indian cricket and hockey team failed to get its government’s clearance to enter Pakistan last year and as a result cancelled their scheduled tours citing security concerns.

The official, on condition of anonymity, said: “The security situation is not good. Still assuring foolproof security for the Pakistan hockey team will be the federal government’s top priority.”

Federal minister for sports Pir Aftab Shah Jilani said, “Player security is a concern for us and the ministry will be assessing all aspects, including the political milieu at the time, before the issuance of the NOC.”