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NEW DELHI, Sept 20 (AFP) - India on Thursday was mulling its participation in next month's South Asian Federation Games in Islamabad after Pakistan insisted the event was on despite security fears in the region.

India's sports officials said they were awaiting a nod from the government about sending a contigent to the regional Games amidst escalating tensions following the terrorist strikes against the United States.

"The government told us last month that we should take part in the Games, but the situation is different now," an Indian Olympic Association (IOA) official said.

"We don't know what to do. We are waiting to hear from the government."

Javed Latif, secretary of the Pakistan Olympic Association, informed the IOA on Wednesday that the Games, featuring seven nations of the South Asian region, would go ahead as scheduled in Islamabad from October 6-15.

Indian newspapers were, however, certain the event will be cancelled.

"Most SAF members have expressed apprehension about going to Islamabad at this juncture," the Times of India said, adding "these countries were looking up to India to take the lead in making a decision."

The Indian football team has asked the IOA whether it should continue its preparatory camp in view of the uncertainity surrounding the Games.

"The boys are training hard, but the motivation is fast disappearing," football official Pradip Banerjee said.

"We want to know whether the Games are on or not. There is no point continuing with the camp if we are not going to travel to Islamabad."

India has selected a 300-strong contingent for the Games, which also features Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

India called off the Afro-Asian Games in New Delhi, scheduled to be held in November, soon after the September 11 terrorist strikes in New York and Washington.

New Zealand cancelled a cricket tour of Pakistan and the International Hockey Federation decided to shift November's Champions Trophy tournament out of the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.

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