India reaffirms ban on bilateral sports with Pakistan, allows participation in multilateral events
In an official memorandum published on Wednesday, the ministry said India’s sporting relationship with Pakistan was in line with its broader diplomatic policy.
“India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its general policy in relations with this country,” the circular said.
The government made its stance on bilateral relations clear and did not allow the resumption of direct sports competitions between the two countries in either country.
“In case of bilateral sports events in each other’s countries, Indian teams will not participate in competitions in Pakistan. We will also not allow Pakistani teams to play in India,” the ministry said in its communication to key stakeholders, including the Indian Olympic Association, Sports Authority of India and all National Sports Federations. he said.
The directive effectively continues the long-standing suspension of bilateral sports events, particularly cricket.
However, the ministry reaffirmed India’s commitment to the international sports framework by making a distinction between bilateral agreements and international competitions governed by global sports bodies. “Indian teams and individual players will take part in international events where teams or players from Pakistan also participate. Similarly, Pakistani players and teams will be able to participate in such multilateral events hosted by India,” the circular said.
The approach is in line with international sporting norms and ensures that Indian athletes are not disadvantaged in global competitions due to geopolitical tensions.
The ministry also used the circular to underline India’s desire to emerge as a major destination for international sporting events and emphasized the need for administrative convenience and compliance with global standards.
“With a view to positioning India as a preferred destination for hosting international sports events, the visa process will be simplified for athletes, team officials, technical staff and officials of International Sports Governing Bodies,” the statement said.
In a significant step, the government announced that it will issue priority multiple-entry visas to officials of international sports organizations for the duration of their tenure (up to five years). He also assured that “due protocol and courtesy will be applied to the Presidents of International Sports Governing Bodies during their visit to India.”
The statement came amid ongoing sensitivities in India-Pakistan relations and coincided with the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, which was launched on May 7 last year in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
While the bilateral freeze remains firmly in place, the latest directive ensures India aligns with international sporting frameworks and balances diplomatic concerns with the interests of its athletes and global ambitions.
