Former Pakistan hockey captain Rehan Butt has advocated for the resumption of hockey ties between India and Pakistan, emphasizing that both teams should play on each other's soil. Butt's statement comes as the Indian government has cleared the Pakistan hockey team's participation in the upcoming Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, scheduled from August 27 to September 7, and the FIH men's Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10.
According to a source in the sports ministry, the decision to allow Pakistan's participation was influenced by the Olympic Charter, which promotes sports as a medium for peace and international cooperation. The source stated that blocking Pakistan's participation in multinational events would be seen as a violation of the Olympic Charter and could potentially harm India's chances of hosting future international events, including the 2036 Olympic Games. Approvals for the Pakistan team's participation have been granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and the Sports Ministry.
India and Pakistan have not engaged in bilateral sports series for nearly two decades due to strained political relations. Even multilateral encounters have faced pressure. Tensions further escalated following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which resulted in the deaths of 26 Indian tourists, leading to India's retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
Despite these tensions, the Indian government has made it clear that it will not impede Pakistan's participation in multinational events held in India. A sports ministry source noted that while India would not be involved in bilateral engagements with Pakistan, it would not prevent them from participating in multinational tournaments hosted in India. The source drew a parallel with Russia and Ukraine, who continue to compete in multinational events despite being at war.
Hockey India (HI) has welcomed the government's decision. HI had communicated to the Indian government that denying visas to Pakistani players might contravene international norms and jeopardize India's bids to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics.
Rehan Butt, who has previously served as the assistant coach for Pakistan, expressed his delight that the current generation of players would have the opportunity to showcase their skills in India. He reminisced about the warmth and appreciation the Pakistan team often received in India, emphasizing that playing in India felt like playing a home game.
The India-Pakistan hockey rivalry is considered one of the most intense in the sport. The two nations have a long history of competing against each other in various international tournaments, including the World Cup, Olympics, Asia Cup, and Asian Games. They have faced each other in eight Asian Games finals, with Pakistan winning six and India two. They also played in three successive Olympic Hockey finals from 1956 to 1964, with India winning twice and Pakistan once. In head-to-head matches, Pakistan has won 82 games, while India has won 67.
With the participation of the Pakistan hockey team in the upcoming Asia Cup and Junior World Cup now confirmed, it is anticipated that the matches between India and Pakistan will be highly competitive and eagerly awaited by fans on both sides of the border. This decision aligns with the Olympic Charter's principles of inclusiveness and harmony, and it also prevents India from facing potential sanctions from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Furthermore, it suggests that athletes from Pakistan will be permitted to participate in other international sports events in India, adhering to the spirit of the Olympic Charter.
