Defending champion India conceded a late goal to allow arch-rival Pakistan walk away with a 1-1 draw in its opening Pool A match of the Asia Cup men's hockey tournament in Jakarta on Monday.
India took the lead in the ninth minute through Selvam Karthi before Abdul Rana equalised in the 59th from a penalty corner.
India will next play Japan on Tuesday.
Pakistan had the first scoring chance in the third minute in the form of a penalty corner, but it failed to stop the ball properly as India survived.
Seconds later, it was India's turn to secure a penalty corner but Neelam Sanjip Xess' effort was saved by the Pakistan goalie Akmal Hussain.
The Indians continued to put pressure on the Pakistan defence and secured two more penalty corners in the first quarter, the second of which was converted by Karthi, who scored his first international goal after his flick went inside the Pakistan citadel after getting a deflection off the stick of defender Muhammad Abdullah.
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In between Pakistan also got another penalty corner but the effort went wide.
Soon after the start of the second quarter, Pakistan goalkeeper Hussain made a fine reflex save to deny Pawan Rajbhar from point blank range.
The Indians dominated the ball possession and secured another penalty corner in the 21st minute which went abegging.
Two minutes from the half time, Pakistan got a chance to equalise when it was awarded a penalty corner for an unnecessary tackle outside the circle by young Vishnukant Singh, but once again, miss-stop ruined the opportunity as India went into into the break with a slender 1-0 lead.
Pakistan made a bright start after the change of ends and threatened the Indian defence early on.
Seconds into the third quarter, Pakistan secured its third penalty corner but Rizwan Ali shot his flick wide.
Minutes later, India custodian Suraj Karkera made a brilliant save from close range to deny Abdul Rana and then the resultant rebound was shot over by Afraz. Thereafter, India had a flurry of chances -- one to Rajbhar and then to Uttam Singh -- but Pakistan goalkeeper Hussain was there to save his side. The Indians kept up the pressure and secured a few more penalty corners in the third quarter but could convert none.
A lapse in concentration cost India dearly as a long ball caught, an otherwise alert Indian defence, off guard in the final two minutes, resulting in a penalty corner for Pakistan.
Rana pushed in from a rebound after Mubashar Ali's flick was saved at the goal line by Yashdeep Siwach.
Meanwhile, in the other matches of the day, Malaysia beat Oman 7-0 and Korea defeated Bangladesh 6-1 in Pool B, while Japan thrashed host Indonesia 9-0 in Pool A.
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