India says it plays fair, gave visas to Pak players

New Delhi: Rejecting Pakistan's suspicions about New Delhi's hand in the absence of Pakistani cricketers from the Indian Premier League (IPL), India on Thursday asked Pakistan to introspect on the "reasons which have put a strain on bilateral ties" and clarified that 17 Pakistani players had been given visas.

"Blaming the government for the absence of Pakistani players from the next edition of IPL is unfortunate," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement in New Delhi.

"Pakistan should introspect on the reasons which have put a strain on relations between India and Pakistan, and have adversely impacted on peace, stability and prosperity in the region," the Ministry said.

The Government also rebutted reports about Pakistani players not getting Indian visas. "Such apprehension is completely misplaced," the Ministry said.

The Ministry clarified that 17 Pakistani cricketers were issued Indian visas at very short notice in December 2009 and January this year to participate in IPL 2010.

"Two visas were issued in Islamabad, while three were issued in Wellington (New Zealand) and 12 in Sydney (Australia), where the concerned Pakistani cricketers had applied while touring New Zealand and Australia, respectively," the Ministry said.

Based on a request from the Pakistan Cricket Board to the High Commission of India in Islamabad, the Ministry said it facilitated necessary clearances from other ministries in India.

As Pakistan escalated rhetoric over the perceived snub to Pakistani cricketers, External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said: "(The) government has nothing to do with IPL, on selection of players and various exercises that are connected with it.

"So, Pakistan will have to draw a line between where government of India is connected and where government of India is an actor," he told reporters when asked about the strong words used by Pakistani leaders linking New Delhi to the non-selection of Pakistani cricketers by IPL team owners.

Krishna was responding to a question on Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik's remarks that the manner in which the Pakistani players were "insulted" showed that India was not serious about the peace process.

Krishna's clarification came a day after Pakistan's National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza announced in the National Assembly the decision not to send any parliamentary delegation to India to protest the "treatment meted out" to the country's cricketers in the IPL tournament.

Furious over the surprise rejection of Pakistani cricketers, Malik told some TV channels in Pakistan: "India or any other country that does not give respect to Pakistan will be treated the same way by us.

"If there is a desire to improve Indo-Pakistan friendship, respect should be given to Pakistani sportspersons," Malik said.