India MEA: SAG 2027 decision guided by sports ministry policy

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that any decision on participating in the 2027 South Asian Games in Pakistan will follow the recent policy of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a media briefing that India’s approach to international or multilateral championships is guided by that policy, by directions from international sports bodies, and by the interests of Indian athletes.

The sports policy bars bilateral India–Pakistan sporting series, but allows athletes from both countries to compete in multilateral events — the category that normally includes the South Asian Games. MEA stopped short of announcing a final travel clearance for the Pakistan-hosted edition.

Indian outlets covering the briefing framed the answer as keeping options open under the published multilateral rules, rather than a yes/no confirmation.

Sources: India Today, Asianet Newsable, The News Mill