India’s foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal dismissed media reports of talks between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on resuming cricket ties during the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan for the summit marked the first such visit by an Indian foreign minister in nearly a decade. While media reports speculated on discussions about cricket between Jaishankar and FM Dar, no confirmation was provided.
According to sources cited by The Times of India, there were “casual conversations” and a brief pull-aside between the two ministers during the summit. Pakistan reportedly suggested resuming bilateral cricketing ties as a way to improve relations with India. However, the Indian foreign ministry spokesman denied any such discussions during a press briefing, stating that the reports were inaccurate.
India’s last visit to Pakistan in 2008 remains the most recent due to strained political relations between the two countries. The upcoming Champions Trophy tournament, scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan, may see India’s participation contingent on government approval. With the potential for bilateral cricketing ties to resume, cricket fans eagerly anticipate the possibility of matches between the two cricketing rivals.
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