Putting an end to the back and forth on India’s decision to play Pakistan across sports, the Sports Ministry on Thursday announced a policy that will act as guidelines for sporting ties with the neighboring country amid strained political relations since the Pahalgam terrorist attack and India’s resultant retaliation with military action.
What the policy states
The brief summary of the policy is that things stand as is, with no bilateral sporting relations with Pakistan and no visit to Pakistan. It also states that India will continue to participate in multi-nation tournaments involving Pakistan at neutral venues and those hosted by India.
Can Pakistan athletes and teams visit India?
There is a blanket ban on any bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan anywhere across sports. However, as part of adherence to the Olympic charter for hosting or competing in multi-nation events, Pakistan athletes and teams will be allowed to participate in continental and global tournaments hosted by India.
Why is the Pakistan team not participating in the men’s hockey Asia Cup?
It's a decision taken by the Pakistan government based on the current relations between the two countries. The Indian government had agreed to provide visas to the Pakistan team and officials to visit for the continental event.
Will India travel to Pakistan for a multi-nation global or continental event?
"In that scenario, we will examine the case before deciding anything," a Sports Ministry official was quoted in a Times of India report. As per the current policy, no Indian team or player(s) have the permission to travel to Pakistan to participate in any tournament.
Will the Indian cricket team play the Asia Cup?
As per the policy, India can participate in the Asia Cup, which also includes Pakistan, because it is a multi-nation event hosted at a neutral venue – UAE.
