Central Asian Volleyball Championship shifted from Pakistan to Uzbekistan

The Central Asian Volleyball Championship, originally scheduled to be held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 29, has been relocated to Uzbekistan amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India following the recent Pahalgam attack.

The relocation was prompted by security concerns raised by participating teams, who were hesitant to travel to Pakistan amidst regional instability. The incident in Pahalgam, located in Indian-occupied Kashmir, resulted in the killing of 26 Indian tourists, significantly escalated diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

The final decision to move the tournament was made during a recent meeting of the Central Asian Volleyball Federation held in Nepal. The Pakistan Volleyball Federation has officially confirmed the event’s relocation.

In response to the Pahalgam incident, India has taken several diplomatic actions, including the suspension of certain provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting Pakistan to issue a strong response. The worsening relationship between the two nuclear-armed countries has begun to impact regional sports, with the volleyball championship being the latest casualty.

The tournament will now be held in Uzbekistan on the originally scheduled dates.