Shimla, Sept. 14 -- As India and Pakistan prepare to face off in Dubai in the Asia Cup, strong voices of opposition have emerged from Shimla, where both locals and visiting tourists largely condemned cricketing and sporting ties with Pakistan, citing terrorism and strained diplomatic relations.

At Shimla's historic Ridge Maidan, residents openly said that cricket cannot be separated from national interest at a time when bilateral relations remain tense. Many invoked terror attacks and cross-border hostilities, insisting that cultural, business, and sporting relations must all remain suspended until Pakistan "stops promoting terrorism."

Gopal Krishan, a resident of Shimla, said, "The match should not be held at all. If Pakistani actors a...