They are now due to take place between December 1 and 10, it was announced following discussions between the eight members of the South Asian Olympic Council.

The event had originally been scheduled to take place between March 9 and 18, but was then pushed back to September due to delays in getting the facilities ready.

Currently eight countries are eligible to take part in the event first held at Kathmandu in 1984. 

They are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

A total of 27 sports are due to be on the programme, including traditional South Asian events such as kabaddi and kho-kho along with Olympic sports such as athletics, swimming and weightlifting. 

"We have been informed by the SA Committee about the new dates of the Games," Pakistan Olympic Association secretary Mohammad Khalid Mehmood confirmed here following a meeting held to coincide with today's 38th Olympic Council of Asia General Assembly. 

An added problem for the event could be the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

Tensions have been running high since Indian aircraft crossed into Pakistan last Tuesday (February 26), carrying out what India called a pre-emptive strike against militants blamed for a February 14 suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops.

Pakistan retaliated, shooting down a fighter jet on Wednesday (February 27) and detaining its pilot, who was later returned to India in a peace gesture.

The last South Asian Games took place in Guwahati and Shillong in India in 2016, when the host nation topped the overall medal table.

They won a total of 308 medals, including 188 gold.

The other seven competing countries won a total of 51 gold medals between them.