India has announced that Pakistani athletes and teams will be allowed to participate in international and multilateral sporting events hosted in the country, while bilateral sports competitions between the two neighbours will remain suspended.

The decision was outlined in a memorandum issued by India’s sports ministry, which said participation in global sporting events would follow the rules and practices of international sports governing bodies and consider the interests of Indian athletes.

According to the ministry, visa procedures for foreign athletes and sports officials will also be simplified. Officials linked to international sports federations will be eligible for multi-entry visas.

The announcement comes as India prepares bids and hosting plans for several major sporting events, including the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the 2036 Summer Olympics and the 2038 Asian Games.

Bilateral sports ties remain suspended

Despite opening participation for international tournaments, India said bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan would continue to remain restricted.

The ministry stated that Indian teams would not travel to Pakistan for bilateral competitions and Pakistani teams would not be permitted to play bilateral events in India.

Sports relations between the two countries, particularly in cricket, have remained limited for more than a decade. India and Pakistan have not played a full bilateral cricket series since 2012-13 and now mostly compete against each other in international tournaments at neutral venues.

Earlier this year, although India co-hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Pakistan played all of its matches in Sri Lanka, including its group-stage fixture against India.

The two countries also experienced heightened military tensions last year, further affecting diplomatic and sporting relations.