India bans bilateral sport with Pakistan, clears entry for global events at home

A year after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, India has drawn a clear line on sporting ties with Pakistan, formalizing a policy that blocks bilateral contests while keeping its doors open for global competitions.

In a statem,ent , the Sports Ministry said Pakistani athletes and teams will be allowed to compete in multilateral events hosted in India. At the same time, it reaffirmed a complete freeze on bilateral sporting engagements between the two countries.

The policy creates a defined split. Indian teams will not travel to Pakistan for bilateral series, and Pakistani teams will not be invited for such contests in India. However, when it comes to international tournaments governed by global federations, participation will follow established norms.

The memorandum makes it explicit that Indian athletes will compete in global events even if Pakistan is part of the field. In parallel, Pakistani athletes will be permitted to take part in international competitions hosted in India. This effectively clears the way for participation in events such as international cricket tournaments and multi-sport competitions.

Officials say the approach reflects India’s broader stance towards Pakistan while also recognizing the realities of international sport, where exclusion is rarely an option. The government has attempted to balance diplomatic sensitivities with the interests of Indian athletes, who risk missing out if global participation rules are not followed.

The timing is significant. India is positioning itself as a major global sporting hub, with a packed calendar of future bids and events. The country is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and is pushing for the 2036 Olympics and the 2038 Asian Games. Evaluation visits by international bodies are expected in the coming months. India will also host the ICC Champions Trophy in 2029 and the 50-over World Cup in 2031.

On the field, Indian and Pakistani athletes are expected to cross paths frequently in the near future, including at the Commonwealth Games scheduled for July-August and the Asian Games in September-October. In hockey, the two sides are set to meet multiple times, including fixtures in London in June and the World Cup in Amsterdam in August.

Sporting ties between the neighbours have remained strained since the Pahalgam attack, with public sentiment running high. Previous encounters in 2025 tournaments triggered backlash, while visa clearances for Pakistani teams also drew criticism within India.

Addressing a key friction point, the government has also announced a simplified visa regime. Athletes, officials, technical staff and international federation representatives will receive faster clearances. Officials from global governing bodies will be eligible for multi-entry visas for up to five years, aimed at ensuring smoother movement in line with international standards.

The move formalizes what had often been handled case by case. In recent years, delays and uncertainty over visas for Pakistani participants had drawn scrutiny from global sports bodies and raised concerns about host obligations.

By clearly stating that multilateral events will remain open, India appears to be removing ambiguity while reinforcing its ambition to emerge as a reliable and competitive global sporting destination.