Pakistan team returns after boycotting Chess Olympiad in India
Pakistan’s chess team returned home via Wagah border. PHOTO: EXPRESS
The Pakistani team which went to India to participate in the 44th Chess Olympiad, returned home on Friday via Wagah border, after boycotting the event.
The Pakistani team was invited to the event in Chennai, India, by the International Chess Federation. However, Pakistan boycotted the event in protest against the passing the event torch through the areas of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan's Foreign Office strongly condemned India's attempt to politicise sports. It said that the purpose of relaying the torch through the internationally-recognised disputed territory was an Indian ploy to deceive the international community.
The Foreign Office spokesperson said that India should know that such actions could legitimise India’s illegal occupation of Kashmir. Pakistan has also decided to raise this issue with the International Chess Federation.