KARACHI: On a sandy tract of land along Karachi’s coastline, hundreds of Pakistani cricket fans gathered in front of a big screen to watch their cricket team battle arch-rivals India in the Champions Trophy on Sunday.
Encounters between the two countries bear the scars of four wars and rank among the most-watched sporting events in the world.
Those watching in Karachi expressed disappointment because the game was originally meant to be played in Pakistan until India refused to travel across the border, citing government advice.
“My dad is a fan of cricket. He’s obsessed... ever since he found out he said he wanted to watch so I found this screen,” said Awal Khan, 40, who works as a cook and paid nearly $2 to travel to the venue, a high cost for most Pakistanis.
“I don’t like that India didn’t come... I’ve never been to the stadium but if India comes to Pakistan I will definitely go.”
For more than a decade, Pakistan and India have played only in multi-team events because of a strained political relationship. Pakistan went to India for the 2023 ODI Cup and expected India to return the favor by touring for the Champions Trophy.
Their once closely contested rivalry has grown more one-sided over the years. India have prevailed in seven of the eight completed ODIs in the last decade against Pakistan, with their last loss coming in the final of the previous Champions Trophy in 2017.
“We’re excited about the Champions Trophy but double excited for the Pakistan-India match,” said Raheel Sayeed, a 28-year-old engineer.
“I don’t think I’ll see Pakistan versus India in Pakistan any time soon. Both governments don’t want peace, especially India.”
Along another stretch of the Arabian Sea on an upscale promenade, hundreds more were slowly growing dejected as India took control of the match.
“If Pakistan loses I’ll be sad. But we have to have hope and we have to pray. But prayers aren’t enough,” said Zakira Bilal, 26, who came to watch the broadcast with her three young children.
“On our way here in the rickshaw, we discussed how Pakistan shouldn’t go to India to play when they don’t come here. Self-respect should be there.”
Pakistanis gather to watch India clash on big screen
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Pakistanis gather to watch India clash on big screen
- Encounters between the two countries bear the scars of four wars and rank among the most-watched sporting events
- Those watching in Karachi expressed disappointment because the game was originally meant to be played in Pakistan
Germany to take in more than 500 stranded Afghans from Pakistan
- German interior minister says Berlin seeks to complete process for Afghan refugees by December
- Afghans part of refugee scheme were stuck in Pakistan after Chancellor Merz froze program earlier this year
BERLIN: The German government said Thursday it would take in 535 Afghans who had been promised refuge in Germany but have been stuck in limbo in Pakistan.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the RND media network Berlin wanted to complete the processing of the cases “in December, as far as possible” to allow them to enter Germany.
The Afghans were accepted under a refugee scheme set up by the previous German government, but have been stuck in Pakistan since conservative Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office in May and froze the program.
Those on the scheme either worked with German armed forces in Afghanistan during the war against the Taliban, or were judged to be at particular risk from the Taliban after its return to power in 2021 — for example, rights activists and journalists, as well as their families.
Pakistan had set a deadline for the end of the year for the Afghans’ cases to be settled, after which they would be deported back to their homeland.
Dobrindt said that “we are in touch with the Pakistani authorities about this,” adding: “It could be that there are a few cases which we will have to work on in the new year.”
Last week, the interior ministry said it had informed 650 people on the program they would not be admitted, as the new government deemed it was no longer in Germany’s “interest.”
The government has offered those still in Pakistan money to give up their claim of settling in Germany, but as of mid-November, only 62 people had taken up the offer.
Earlier this month, more than 250 organizations in Germany, including Amnesty International, Save the Children and Human Rights Watch, said there were around 1,800 Afghans from the program in limbo in Pakistan, and urged the government to let them in.
