The Government of India has once again made its policy clear on the sensitive matter of sports ties with Pakistan. According to official sources, New Delhi will not permit any bilateral sporting events with the neighboring country due to persisting political tensions and cross-border issues. However, the government has maintained a flexible stance when it comes to multilateral tournaments, allowing Indian athletes and teams to participate in global events where Pakistan also competes under international bodies such as the International Cricket Council (ICC), Asian Games, or Olympic-level championships.
This policy has been in place for several years, with sporting ties between India and Pakistan largely frozen outside of ICC or ACC tournaments. Cricket, in particular, has been most affected, as the last bilateral series between the two nations took place in 2012–13. Since then, India and Pakistan have only met in international tournaments such as the Cricket World Cup, T20 World Cup, and Asia Cup. Officials argue that while sports should remain independent of politics, the security situation and public sentiment in India make bilateral matches untenable.
The decision is seen as balancing national interest and international obligations. By participating in multilateral tournaments, India avoids potential penalties from global sports bodies while maintaining its diplomatic stance against Pakistan. Sports experts note that the policy also reflects India’s growing global sporting stature, where pulling out of international events is not a viable option. For athletes, this means continuing to compete at the highest level without endorsing direct bilateral engagement. While the debate around “sports and politics” continues, India’s clear policy ensures there is no ambiguity going forward.