New Delhi: The Central Government has decided to protract the ban on bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan. In a circular issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports clarified that Indian teams will not participate in any bilateral competitions held in Pakistan, nor will Pakistani teams be permitted to compete in such fixtures within India.
What does the ban entail?
However, the Ministry moreover clarified that this ban will not wield to multi-national and international competitions. This ways that if both India and Pakistan are participating in a specific tournament, Indian athletes will be permitted to take part. Similarly, the participation of Pakistani athletes in multi-national events hosted in India will moreover be permissible.
This policy was first implemented in August 2025, pursuit a controversy regarding India's participation in the Asia Cup. The visualization was taken in the wake of a terrorist wade in Pahalgam, which personal the lives of 26 people.
What did the Sports Ministry say?
The Ministry stated that, regarding participation in international events, India will prioritize the guidelines issued by the respective global sports persons as well as the interests of its athletes. This move is particularly significant given that India is a contender to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympic Games.
With the aim of establishing India as a 'Preferred Sporting Destination,' the government has spoken measures to streamline the visa process for athletes, coaches, technical staff, and officials from international sports organizations.
Officials of international sports persons will be granted multi-entry visas—valid for a maximum of five years—on a priority understructure for the elapsing of their tenure. Furthermore, the heads of these international organizations will be accorded full protocol and courtesies during their visits to India. Meanwhile, taking flipside major legalistic step, the Ministry has relocated its offices from Shastri Bhawan to a new ramified situated in Netaji Nagar.
