Cultural and sports events between India and Pak helpful in the long run: Basit

Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Monday said that cultural and sports events and as well as student exchange programmes held between the two countries have benefits that will be beneficial to both nations in the long run.

"There are some intangible things and their benefits might not appear in front of you immediately. Cultural events, sports events, student exchange: they all have benefits that are not immediately clear. But these are helpful in the long run. When countries organise events like this, many misunderstandings fade away," Basit told the media here.

"It is possible that their benefits might not show today or tomorrow but these events do have benefits. When both countries are willing for their players to play, then what can be more valuable?" he added.

Former Home Secretary and BJP MP R.K. Singh had earlier today expressed his opposition to the proposed India-Pakistan cricket series in December.

He raised this issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier last year signed MoUs with the BCCI for six bilateral series to be contested during the next eight years, with Pakistan staging four of them.

The last time the two nations played was in 2012-13 when Pakistan visited India for a three-match One Day International (ODI) and two-match Twenty20 series.