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CALCUTTA, India, Sunday (AFP) - India will not play cricket with arch rival Pakistan until Islamabad takes concrete steps to stop "cross-border terrorism," a top Indian minister said here on Saturday.

"The government will not allow any cricket with Pakistan until it takes appropriate measures to wipe out cross-border terrorism," said sports minister Uma Bharati.

"The decision not to play against Pakistan is a collective one of various ministries," she said.

There is no upcoming match between the arch rivals, but India has repeatedly refused to play Pakistan, whom it accuses of backing "cross-border terrorism" in the disputed state of Kashmir.

India last year refused to play against Pakistan at Lahore in the Asian Test championship, also featuring Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

India had also cancelled their scheduled tour of Pakistan in December 2000.

They also pulled out of the Sharjah one-day series in the Gulf last April because of Pakistan's presence.

India last played a Test in Pakistan in 1989.

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