Pakistan has pulled out of the Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 to be held in India in November-December the International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed on Friday. FIH said Pakistan’s replacement team for the November 28-December 10 event to be held in Chennai and Madurai will be announced soon. The PHF have taken this decision in the aftermath of ‘Operation Sindoor’ carried out for India in response to Pahalgam terrorist attack earlier this year.  “We can confirm that the Pakistan Hockey Federation has notified the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that its team initially qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey Mens Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 won’t participate eventually” FIH said in a statement released to PTI news agency. “The team replacing Pakistan for this event will be announced soon” the statement added.   Pak pulled out of Jr Mens World Cup to be held in India next month. Paks hockey s fall started when they failed to qualify for the 2001 Jr.WC which India went on to win. Our rise started since then. Its a defeatist stand by Pak. Its loss for them not to anybody else. — stick2hockey.com (@indianhockey) October 24 2025 Pakistan were placed in Group B alongside India Chile and Switzerland and it remains to be seen which team replaces them. This is the second event in India that Pakistan has pulled out from after the men’s Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir Bihar held from August 29 to September 7 this year. The sporting ties between India and Pakistan have deteriorated since the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and Indias subsequent Operation Sindoor. The Indian government recently announced a new policy under which it will not engage in bilateral sporting contests with Pakistan but will continue to compete against them in multi-nation tournaments. During the recent Asia Cup India skipper Suryakumar Yadav had refused to shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart. ‘No Knowledge’ says Hockey India Hockey India however said it has no clue about the Pakistans withdrawal. “We have no information from FIH that Pakistan has withdrawn. I had a conversation with Pakistan Hockey Federation officials a month-and-a half-back and they had confirmed their participation” HI secretary general Bholanth Singh said. “What transpired after that I have no knowledge. Our duty is to conduct the best tournament as hosts and hope India wins the title. It is now upto FIH to announce a replacement for Pakistan.” PHF look for neutral venue Interestingly while FIH says it will look for a replacement team Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has expressed willingness to compete in the tournament at a neutral venue. PHF secretary general Rana Mujahid said on Friday it had been decided in principle the national junior team would not travel to India due to the existing tensions between the two countries and it was conveyed to the FIH. “We have at the same time urged the FIH to arrange for a neutral venue to allow us to participate and play our matches in the Junior World Cup as missing out on major events because they are being held in India is hurting our hockey and not helping in the development of our players” the Olympian said in Lahore. “We have told the FIH how do they expect us to go and play in India when their athletes are not even willing to shake hands in different sports even at neutral venues. FIH says all the events were awarded to India well before the conflict so no one anticipated such a situation” Rana added.