SRINAGAR: The Sports Ministry on Thursday announced that India will not engage in any bilateral sporting events with Pakistan, but clarified that the Indian cricket team will be allowed to participate in the multi-nation Asia Cup next month, according to Indian Express.
The new policy, which takes immediate effect, aligns India’s sports engagement with Pakistan to its broader diplomatic approach. According to the ministry, “Indian teams will not participate in competitions in Pakistan, nor will Pakistani teams be permitted to play in India”.
However, multilateral tournaments will continue to be allowed. A ministry source said, “We will not stop the Indian cricket team from playing in the Asia Cup as it is a multilateral event. Pakistan will not be allowed on Indian soil for bilateral competitions, but we will respect their participation in multilateral events in line with the Olympic Charter.”
The policy is expected to govern all future international sporting interactions between India and Pakistan, emphasizing caution in bilateral engagements while maintaining India’s presence in multilateral competitions.
