It is highly unfortunate that Pakistan has politicised the prestigious international event, said the MEA Spokesperson

India has criticised Pakistan for pulling out of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Tamil Nadu, stating that it is “highly unfortunate” that Islamabad has “politicised” the prestigious international event.

“It is highly unfortunate that Pakistan has politicised the prestigious international event by making such statements and withdrawing from the event,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday.

The MEA Spokesperson was responding to questions on Pakistan’s decision to pull out from the Olympiad, citing the torch relay of the event passing through Jammu and Kashmir.

He asserted that “the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been, are and will remain an integral part of India.”

Citing India’s torch rally through Kashmir on July 21 as a reason for withdrawal, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar said in a statement to Radio Pakistan that “India chose to politicise this prestigious international sporting event.”