Shafaqna Pakistan: India has said that Pakistani players and teams will be allowed to take part in multilateral sporting events hosted in India, while bilateral sporting contests between the two countries will remain suspended.
According to India’s sports ministry, visa procedures for athletes and officials will be simplified, and office bearers of international sports governing bodies will be granted multi-entry visas.
The ministry stated that for international and multilateral events—whether held in India or abroad—policy will be guided by international sports bodies and the interests of Indian athletes. It also highlighted India’s growing status as a host of major global sporting events.
India is scheduled to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 and has also submitted bids for the 2036 Summer Olympics and the 2038 Asian Games in Ahmedabad.
The two countries engaged in a military conflict that nearly snowballed into a full-fledged war last year.
There has been a long freeze in bilateral cricket between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who have not played a full series since 2012-13 and now meet largely at neutral venues.
Although India were co-hosts of the Twenty20 World Cup earlier this year, Pakistan played all their matches in Sri Lanka — including a group game against India.
“In so far as bilateral sports events in each other’s country are concerned, Indian teams will not be participating in competitions in Pakistan. Nor will we permit Pakistani teams to play in India,” the ministry added.
Source: Dunya News
