India has said it is not deterred by the warning issued by the Al Qaida to international sportsmen against visiting the country for forthcoming events. But Australia and New Zealand have already said they want reassurances about security at the Hockey World Cup starting later this month.
(Read: Aus, NZ govts assess Indian terror threat)
On Wednesday, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram brushed aside the reported warning issued by Kashmir-based militant Illyas Kashmiri , saying: "We are not deterred by Illyas Kashmiri's warnings...Illyas Kashmiri cannot dictate our course of action".
The Asia Times Online website had published a message reportedly from the guerrilla commander Kashmiri, whose 313 Brigade is an operational arm of the Al-Qaida. The message warned of potential attacks on the Hockey World Cup, the IPL cricket tournament and the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi later this year.
(Read & Watch: Al-Qaida's threat to IPL, Hockey World Cup) "We warn the international community not to send their people to the 2010 Hockey World Cup, IPL and Commonwealth Games. Nor should their people visit India _ if they do, they will be responsible for the consequences," Asia Times Online quoted a translated message as saying.
The message was not verified, but Asia Times Online said it had interviewed the leader of the group in October.
There is international concern. Australia and New Zealand have said they have no plans yet to cancel participation, but have asked for strong security. The News Zealand men's hockey team will delay traveling to India. Sports organizations in the two countries have said they will heed advice from their governments, international sports bodies and specialist security advisers over the level of threat.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and New Zealand's John Key said their governments were working closely with Indian authorities to monitor the level of risk.
"Indian authorities have pledged to implement strong security procedures for all upcoming sporting events in India," Rudd said. "We, however, will be following this very, very closely."
Key said his government could not instruct New Zealanders not to compete in India but would offer the latest security advice.
"The decision whether to travel or not ultimately rests with the sporting team. We wouldn't stop a sporting team going but it's important we are able to give them the best information possible so that they can assess that," Key said. (With AP inputs)