The Sports Ministry stated on Wednesday that although athletes from other countries will not be prevented from travelling here for multilateral events, the general ban on bilateral athletic connections with Pakistan that was put in place last year will still be in effect.

"In so far as bilateral sports events in each other's country are concerned, Indian teams will not be participating in competitions in Pakistan. Nor will we permit Pakistani teams to play in India," the ministry stated in a circular issued to all National Sports Federations (NSFs), the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), among others.