No bilateral ties, open doors for global events in India
4 min readMumbaiUpdated: May 6, 2026 02:48 PM IST A year after the Pahalgam terror attacks and Operation Sindoor, India has formally opened the door for Pakistani athletes and teams to compete on its soil in international events, spelling out a clear policy that separates bilateral ties from global sporting commitments. In an Office Memorandum issued on May 5, the Sports Ministry stated that ‘Pakistani players and teams will be able to participate in multilateral events hosted by India,’ while also signalling a more supportive visa regime for athletes, officials and international federation representatives. The policy draws a firm line between bilateral and multilateral sport. “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 memorandum said. But in the same breath, it clarifies that for international competitions, “we are guided by the practices of international sports bodies and the interest of our own sportspersons.” Crucially, it underlines that ‘Indian teams …
