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The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Saturday formally barred all national sports federations from participating in events scheduled to take place in India, citing security concerns amid escalating political tensions.
In an official notification issued to the federations, the PSB clarified that no sports body will be allowed to commit to any competition in India without prior consultation and written approval from the board.
“Keeping in view the prevailing security concerns, the PSB Board in its 34th meeting held on 23rd July 2025 has decided that no National Sports Federation (NSF) shall commit to participate in any sporting event in India without prior consultation with Pakistan Sports Board,” the notification stated.
The board further instructed all NSFs to obtain clearance before even considering any event across the border.
The move comes on the heels of a government decision earlier this month to pull the national men’s hockey team out of the upcoming Men’s Hockey Asia Cup in India
The tournament is scheduled to be held in Rajgir from August 27 to September 7, but Pakistan withdrew, citing serious security threats and rising diplomatic strain.
Sources within the setup maintain that Pakistan has consistently advocated for keeping politics separate from sport.
However, they allege that India has politicized the sporting space and created a hostile environment for visiting athletes, particularly those from Pakistan.
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