New Delhi, October 17, 2024- India has dismissed recent reports suggesting that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar discussed the resumption of cricket ties with Pakistani officials during his visit to Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.
According to speculation, Jaishankar reportedly engaged in talks on Tuesday with Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also oversees the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), about rekindling cricket ties between the two nations. These reports claimed the conversations included the possibility of resuming ties through the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy, set to be hosted by Pakistan.
Responding to these claims, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal firmly denied any such discussion. “There was no conversation about cricket,” Jaiswal said during a media briefing. “The reports circulating are inaccurate.”
Jaiswal emphasized that Jaishankar’s visit to Islamabad was solely to attend the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting. The only formal bilateral meeting held during his visit was with Mongolia’s Prime Minister, Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai. Beyond that, Jaishankar merely exchanged pleasantries with other officials during informal moments at the event, such as lunches and dinners.
“There were no sideline meetings with the Pakistani leadership as claimed,” Jaiswal clarified, putting an end to rumors about any talks related to cricket diplomacy.
