India revokes visas for Pakistan hockey team after deadly terror attack
- The recent Pahalgam terror attack left 26 people dead and led to widespread outrage in India.
- The Indian government revoked visas for all Pakistani nationals, including the hockey team, casting doubt on their participation in the Asia Cup.
- The future of Pakistan's hockey team in the Asia Cup now depends on governmental approvals amid increasing calls in India for severance of ties with Pakistan.
In light of heightened tensions following a terror attack in Pahalgam, India, which resulted in 26 fatalities, the scheduled visit of the Pakistan men's hockey team to India for the upcoming Asia Cup is now uncertain. The attack, believed to have been carried out by terrorists with cross-border connections, has provoked significant public outrage across India. As a consequence of the attack, the Indian government has revoked visas for all Pakistani nationals, leading to uncertainty regarding Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup set to occur in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 to September 7. The Asia Cup is considered an important tournament for qualifying for the 2026 Hockey World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. The revocation of visas has raised the stakes further and led to speculation in Pakistani media about the potential for the Indian government to permit the Pakistan team to compete. Prominent voices in India have begun calling for severing all ties with Pakistan, including in sports, which has exacerbated debates around sporting engagements between the two nations. Rana Mujahid, the General Secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, voiced his doubts about the tour's feasibility, emphasizing that while they maintain good relations with Hockey India, participation is ultimately a matter determined by the governments of both countries. He pointed out that the current situation, with the revocation of visas, renders the visit impractical unless the government grants permission. On the Indian side, Hockey India General Secretary Bhola Nath Singh stated that they would await instructions from the central government before making decisions regarding the tournament. Historically, Pakistan’s hockey teams have participated in FIH-sanctioned events in India on several occasions in the past decade, making this situation particularly significant as it could disrupt established sporting relationships between the two neighboring countries.