India sees its first cricket match against Pakistan in five years

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's first five-year cricket match between India and Pakistan began on Tuesday amid tight security in the southern Indian city of Bangalore. It is the first cricket match between the two countries since the Mumbai attacks of 2008, which India has accused Pakistani-based terrorists of carrying out. The attacks killed 166 people, leading to the deterioration of bilateral relations between India and Pakistan. The two countries have in the past resorted to cricket to improve relations between the two countries. Security at Shenaswamy Stadium was tightened, fans searched the gates and some 200 surveillance cameras were deployed inside and around the stadium, NTV television reported. At least 5,000 policemen were deployed at the Chinaswamy Stadium and along the road to the two-kilometer-long hotel. According to the NDTV channel, sniper groups and police dogs have been conducting surveys of the area since Sunday. It was the last of a series of matches between India and Pakistan in November 2007, although the two countries have met in other international cricket championships, such as the World Cup hosted by Sri Lanka in September. About 3,000 Pakistanis are expected to arrive in Indian territory over the next two weeks to watch the series of games ending on January 6. India and Pakistan have faced three previous wars since independence from British rule, two of which were wars over the Kashmir region. Talks are under way between the two countries to resolve many controversial issues, including border disputes.