India has decided to pull out of the South Asian Federation Games in Pakistan next month citing threats to its contingent from the Al Qaeda, Taliban and other terrorist outfits operating from that country.

The external affairs ministry has taken a decision to this effect in consultation with the sports ministry, which had earlier decided to send a 350-strong contingent to Islamabad for the ten-day event beginning March 29.

However, India is expected to play Pakistan in the cricket World Cup match scheduled for March 1, official sources said on Saturday.