'Sporting ties with India not possible right now'

Pakistan sports minister Aftab Shah Jillani does not foresee restoration of sporting ties with India in the near future. "I don't think it is possible to restore bilateral sporting ties with India at this stage and in these existing circumstances," Jillani told reporters at a function in Karachi.

Updated on: Jul 5, 2009, 22:30:57 IST

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Pakistan sports minister Aftab Shah Jillani does not foresee restoration of sporting ties with India in the near future.

"I don't think it is possible to restore bilateral sporting ties with India at this stage and in these existing circumstances," Jillani told reporters at a function in Karachi.

He said the sporting ties were determined by the government level ties between the two countries.

"As soon as conditions improve and official contacts are made the sports ministry will seek advice from the foreign ministry," he added.

The Pakistan foreign office then didn't allow Pakistani cricketers to go and play in the Indian Premier League this year due to the tense relations with India following the Mumbai attacks in November last year.

The Indian cricket board has also avoided any bilateral ties with Pakistan since the Mumbai incident and cancelled a scheduled Test tour earlier this year.

It has also not scheduled any bilateral series with Pakistan in the next Future Tour Program from 2012.

Pakistan and India are not scheduled to play their next bilateral series in the existing FTP until early 2012.

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