Pakistan athletes permitted to compete in Indian multilateral sports event

India’s Government Announces Visitation Rules for Pakistani Athletes

The Indian government has announced that Pakistani athletes and teams will be allowed to participate in multilateral sports events hosted by India, but bilateral events such as cricket remain off-limits.

According to a memorandum issued by the sport ministry, international and multilateral events are guided by the practices of international sports bodies and the interests of Indian sportspersons. The government also considers India’s emergence as a credible venue for hosting international sports events.

India is set to host several major international sporting events in the coming years, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the 2036 Olympics, and the 2038 Asian Games in Ahmedabad. This has led to increased diplomatic efforts between India and Pakistan.

In a statement, the sport ministry clarified that while Pakistani athletes will be allowed to visit India for multilateral events, bilateral sports events such as cricket remain prohibited. Indian teams will not participate in competitions in Pakistan, and Pakistani teams will also not be permitted to play in India.

The decision comes after a recent military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, which has led to a long-standing freeze in bilateral cricket matches since 2012-13. The government’s announcement is seen as an effort to ease tensions and promote sports diplomacy between the two countries.

Source: Al Jazeera