Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur says India vs Pakistan bilateral series will not take place anytime soon

Union Sports Minster Anurag Thakur has said, that the Indian Cricket Board had earlier decided a bilateral series of cricket between India and Pakistan will not take place until Pakistan puts an end to "terrorism" following the Anantnag encounter.

This statement comes after three top Indian security personnel were recently killed in a gunfight in Anantnag's encounter with Pakistan-based terrorists in Jammu & Kashmir which has enraged the entire country. He termed the gunfight in Anantnag as "unfortunate" and a strong reply would be given to the terrorists.

Indian Cricket Board had decided much earlier that we would not play bilateral matches with Pakistan: Anurag Thakur

While speaking to reporters Thakur said, "Indian Cricket Board had decided much earlier that we would not play bilateral matches with Pakistan until they put an end to terrorism, cross-border attacks and infiltration. I think the sentiments of the country and of the public are also the same."

"The Modi government has taken drastic steps against terrorism. Terror incidents have come down in the last nine years. What has happened in Kashmir is unfortunate and very sad. We will give the terrorists a befitting reply. When the 26/11 attacks (Mumbai 2008 attacks) happened, the Manmohan Singh-led Congress government remained a mute spectator."

Army Colonel commanding a Quick Response Team (QRT) of the Rashtriya Rifles, who lost his life in the gunfight in the Anantnag district. An Army Major and a Deputy Superintendent with the Jammu and Kashmir Police also died in the Kokernag area.

Earlier Indian Cricket Board, president Roger Binny, and vice-president Rajeev Shukla travelled to Pakistan following an invitation to members of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Rajiv Shukla after the visit said, "It was a two-day visit and a good visit. The Governor hosted a dinner in our honour. The hospitality of the people of the Pakistan Cricket Board was also good. Their demand was that cricket between the two countries should be resumed, we said it would be decided by govt and we would do whatever our govt would say. It was a cricket visit and there was no political agenda."