India scraps hockey series as ties with Pakistan get strained

Hockey lovers would be upset with the latest twist in Indo-Pak ties. The stage was set for the India-Pakistan hockey match series, but Hockey India got a letter from the Minister of External Affairs last evening, asking it to cancel the bilateral series.

This was the fallout of a resolution passed yesterday by the Pakistan National Assembly (the lower House of Pakistan Parliament), condemning India's hanging of Afzal Guru and expressing concern at the "situation created in Jammu and Kashmir after the execution" of Guru. The resolution was moved by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Fazlur Rehman, who heads a parliamentary panel on Kashmir.

Pakistan were scheduled to visit India for five games from April 5-15 and India were to play five games in Pakistan from April 23 to May 2.

In India, this morning, both Houses of Parliament passed unanimous resolutions rejecting the resolution passed by the National Assembly of Pakistan.

"The House notes that Pakistan has committed that it would not allow its territory to be used for terrorism against India and only fulfilment of this commitment can be the basis for peaceful relations with Pakistan. 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", the resolution passed by the Indian Parliament says.

It adds: "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. Any attempt from any quarter to interfere in the internal affairs of India will be met resolutely and with complete unity of our nation."

More visa cancellation cannot be ruled out, although a conference on trade ties between India and Pakistan organised by think tank Icrier stayed on course.

India-Pakistan joint business council formed
The much-awaited India-Pakistan Joint Business Council, which will seek to increase bilateral trade and investment, got formally notified today.

The body, to be set up under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, will constitute 15 industrialists and businessmen from both sides. The Indian side will be co-chaired by Sunil K Munjal of Hero MotoCorp Ltd.

Key responsibilities of the body are yet to be worked out. The council is expected to have its first meeting in August.

The council is expected to meet every six months and identify ways in doing business on both sides with ease. It would also do advisory work by giving recommendations to the government on ways to increase two-way trade.

The idea to create a joint business council was mooted during first commerce secretary level talks between India and Pakistan in April 2011.