Islamabad: Pakistan cable operators, who blacked out local and international private channels demanding the lifting of ban on Indian channels, called off their three-day old agitation on August 26 after the government threat to cancel their licences.

Transmission of the local private channels as well as international channels like BBC, CNN and Fox resumed after the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (COAP) announced the withdrawal of their strike.

A spokesman of the Association said that they have decided to call off their strike after Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad invited them for talks.

The ban on the Indian channels that was imposed during the political and military tensions in 2002 continued and Pakistan government refused to lift it.

The cable operators hope that the government would lift the ban on the Indian channels after their agitation.

According to COAP the ban has affected their business badly, while Pakistan government said it was necessary to help the domestic channels to stabilise themselves as most of the Pakistanis preferred to see Indian channels.

Rashid had warned of stern action if the cable operators continued their strike.

"It is up to them if they want to observe strike. We will talk to them, if they approach us. However, if they continue their obduracy, we shall cancel their licenses and issue new licenses to other parties," he was quoted as saying in the media.

PTI