India–Pakistan No Longer a Bilateral Sports Event

The Central Sports Ministry has clarified its stance on India–Pakistan bilateral sports relations. The ministry has stated that there will be no change in the policy regarding bilateral sports events with Pakistan in international tournaments.
The National Sports Federation of India, the Indian Olympic Committee, and the Sports Authority of India have issued a directive making their position clear. The ministry’s directive says that Pakistan’s participation in bilateral sports competitions will be completely banned. However, international rules allow participation in multinational competitions, which will be permitted. This means India will not allow Pakistan in bilateral events but will permit them in multilateral international events organized by India, where Pakistan can take part. In other words, the bilateral chain—such as cricket, hockey, or other sports between India and Pakistan—will have no matches. This situation will continue in the future as well. The ministry has given priority to national interests and the rules of international sports bodies in this decision.