NEW DELHI: When India banned the hit PUBG mobile game over its diplomatic row with China, Zeyan Shafiq’s eSports team was suddenly left without players. So Shafiq, who is based in war-torn Kashmir, did something very unusual: he reached across the border to Pakistan.
Shafiq, 18, feared reprisals over his move, but none came. It resulted in an unheard-of alliance between Indian and Pakistani gamers, forged in one of the most dangerous regions in the world.
“Of course we had lot of things in the mind when we made this move including a possibility of backlash,” Shafiq told AFP.
“But by God’s grace everything went well and people supported us on both sides. They understood that this is eSports and there is no partiality between these two countries.”
PUBG, or PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, is a military-style war game where teams battle online, and whose mobile app has been downloaded hundreds of millions of times around the world.
The game echoes real life in Kashmir, which is disputed by India and Pakistan and where shells and bullets hurtle almost daily across the border.
But following a deadly clash with Chinese troops on another disputed frontier, India blocked the PUBG app, which is licensed by Chinese tech giant Tencent, along with dozens of others.
It left Shafiq’s Stalwarts Esports team without players, after they had already earned a shot at reaching the PUBG world league, which offers $2 million in prizes.
“I somehow managed to retain a slot for my team but was not allowed to pick Indian players. So I got in touch with the Pakistan players,” he said.
“The Pakistan team played in the world league last year... so I told them they should collaborate with me and they agreed.”
Shafiq’s move cuts through decades of tensions between India and Pakistan, whose sporting ties are non-existent. It’s been 13 years since either side visited the other to play cricket, the two countries’ favorite game.
Early this year, an unofficial Indian kabaddi team caused uproar when it landed in Pakistan for a tournament. India’s government and kabaddi federation both denied sending a team.
Relations haven’t always been so poor. In 1987, future Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, then 14, stood in as a fielder for a Pakistan team led by Imran Khan, now the Pakistani prime minister, in an exhibition game in Mumbai. But such a move is now unthinkable.
Stalwarts Esports ultimately failed in their bid to reach the PUBG world league. But Abdul Haseeb, one of the Pakistani players, said the collaboration was a success in other ways.
“We were happy to represent our talent without caring about national borders,” he said.
“In the end the love and support we received from both countries fulfilled our purpose of being on that platform and representing both Pakistan and India.”
Games without frontiers: Indians, Pakistanis team up for eSports
https://arab.news/5u6b7
Games without frontiers: Indians, Pakistanis team up for eSports
- When India banned PUBG over diplomatic row with China, players in disputed Kashmir reached out to gamers across the border in Pakistan
- The gamers’ actions cut through decades of tensions between India and Pakistan whose sporting ties are non-existent
Saudi Arabia awards Pakistani army chief with King Abdulaziz Medal
- Medal recognizes Field Marshal Asim Munir’s efforts in strengthening Saudi-Pakistani friendship, advancing joint cooperation
- Munir reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to security, stability and prosperity of Saudi Arabia, says Pakistan military’s media wing
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman presented the King Abdulaziz Medal of the First Class to Pakistan’s Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Sunday in a ceremony at his office in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The SPA said Munir was awarded the medal following a royal order from Saudi Arabia’s King Salman. The medal recognizes Munir’s distinguished efforts in strengthening Saudi-Pakistani friendship, advancing joint cooperation and developing relations between the two countries.
“Upon the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ directive, Minister of Defense decorates Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff with King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class,” the SPA wrote on social media platform X.
Munir’s meeting with Prince Khalid featured a review of historical ties, strategic defense cooperation between the two countries and discussions on promoting international peace and security.
Pakistan military’s media wing said the award also reflects Munir’s contributions toward regional peace and stability, including sustained collaboration in counter-terrorism and security.
“The conferment of the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class underscores the depth of Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations and the shared determination of both nations to further strengthen strategic cooperation in pursuit of regional and global peace,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan military’s media wing, said.
Munir thanked the Saudi leadership for the honor, describing it as a “reflection of the enduring bonds between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.”
“He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the security, stability and prosperity of the Kingdom,” the ISPR said.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have eyed closer economic and defense ties in recent months. The two countries signed a historic strategic defense pact in September this year, according to which an attack on one country will be treated as an attack on both.
In October, Islamabad and Riyadh agreed to launch an Economic Cooperation Framework to expand bilateral trade and investment ties.
