India's Stance on Sports with Pakistan: No Bilateral Matches, But Asia Cup Participation Allowed

India's New Sports Policy Regarding Pakistan

New Delhi: The Indian government has announced that there will be no bilateral sporting events with Pakistan, although the cricket team is permitted to participate in the upcoming Asia Cup next month, according to a statement from the Sports Ministry on Thursday.

The ministry introduced a new policy regarding India's international sports engagements, particularly focusing on its relationship with Pakistan. This policy is effective immediately.

The ministry's statement indicates that India's stance on sports events involving Pakistan aligns with its broader diplomatic approach towards the neighboring country.

Specifically, Indian teams will not compete in any sports events hosted in Pakistan, nor will Pakistani teams be allowed to participate in events held in India.

However, this policy does not extend to multilateral competitions.

A ministry source confirmed, "We will not prevent the Indian cricket team from participating in the Asia Cup since it is a multilateral event."

The source further clarified, "While Pakistan cannot compete on Indian soil for bilateral matches, we will adhere to the Olympic Charter and allow their participation in multilateral events."

When questioned about the possibility of Indian teams traveling to Pakistan for multilateral competitions, the source stated, "Each case will be evaluated before making a decision."

The source also expressed concerns about the safety of athletes, remarking, "We cannot leave our athletes vulnerable, especially considering the hostile rhetoric from Pakistan towards India."