Pakistan has withdrawn its men's hockey team from the upcoming Junior Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be held in India from November 28 to December 10, citing political tensions. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has formally informed the International Hockey Federation (FIH) of its decision, stating that the current environment is not conducive for their team to participate.

PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid stated, "It is by no means appropriate to travel to India and play under the current situation". He referenced the recent Asia Cup cricket event where, according to him, the Indian players did not shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts and refused to receive the trophy from a Pakistani official, calling the behavior "shameful".

According to reports, the decision was made after consulting with the Pakistan government and the Pakistan Sports Board, who deemed it unfeasible to send the team to India due to security concerns amidst the existing political climate. The PHF also proposed the option of playing their matches at a neutral venue.

This is not the first time Pakistan has pulled out of a sporting event in India. They also withdrew from the Men's Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar. The withdrawal also follows a series of escalating tensions between the two nations, including the recent "Operation Sindoor" and the Pahalgam terror attack. These events have further strained relations, impacting various aspects, including sports.

The PHF's warning to its junior team players ahead of their Sultan of Johor Cup match against India to avoid confrontations and emotional displays highlighted the underlying tensions. They were also told to be prepared for a potential no-handshake policy from the Indian team.

Pakistan was placed in Group B for the Junior World Cup, alongside India, Chile, and Switzerland. The FIH will now decide on a replacement team. The Pakistan junior team has been preparing for the World Cup for over a year and will now be deprived of participation.

This withdrawal has further strained the already tense sporting relations between India and Pakistan. India has a policy of no bilateral contests with Pakistan. The situation echoes previous instances where sporting events have been affected by the political climate, such as India's reluctance to send its cricket team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. This led to a hybrid model being adopted, with India playing its matches in Dubai. Similarly, Pakistan was forced to host the Asia Cup 2023 on a hybrid model, with India's matches and the final held in Sri Lanka.