Rejecting Pakistan's charge that its players were snubbed for IPL at the behest of India, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Thursday said it should draw a line between government programmes and private events.
"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 said.
Krishna said this when reporters sought his comments on Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik's remarks that the manner in which the players were "insulted" showed that India was not serious about the peace process.
The Minister's remarks also come in the wake of Pakistan's move against sending any parliamentary delegations to India to protest the 'treatment meted out' to the country's cricketers in the auction for the Indian Premier League tournament.
Twenty20 champions Pakistan was stunned after none of the country's 11 players, including current Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi who had played for Deccan Chargers in the first season, were signed up during the IPL auction on Tuesday.
Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza had said that her country will not send parliamentary delegations to India after the main opposition PML-N said its members will boycott all official visits to India to protest the perceived snub of the Pakistani cricketers.
"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-Pak friendship, respect should be given to Pakistani sportspersons," Malik said. PTI
