India says Pakistani athletes cannot be barred from participating in Commonwealth Games

The Indian government has decided not to bar Pakistani athletes from participating in the upcoming Commonwealth Games 2030 in one of India’s cities. The move comes amid concerns that political interference could trigger a ban from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Officials reportedly feared that attempts to prevent Pakistani participation could jeopardize India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, a long-term vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“While India continues to oppose its political rival Pakistan, we cannot afford to bar their athletes from international events. Failing to invite them could lead to sanctions, as seen when Indonesia was banned from the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Jakarta in October for political interference,” an official said.

The official added, “We are on track to stage the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, and our Olympic aspirations for 2036 would be weakened if Pakistan were excluded. After the Pahalgam terror attack, the government faced criticism on social media, but the IOC’s strict action against Indonesia validates our decision.”

India has previously been criticized for politicizing sports, particularly cricket. During the Asia Cup in September, tensions flared when Indian players reportedly refused to shake hands with Pakistani counterparts or interact with a Pakistani presenter.

They also declined to receive the trophy from Asia Cup chairperson Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan’s Interior Minister. Following this, the Indian media expressed outrage as the Asia Cup authority refused to send the trophy to India.