India has issued the necessary security and diplomatic clearances for Pakistan’s men’s hockey team to participate in the 2025 Asia Cup, according to a senior Sports Ministry official. The approvals, jointly granted by the Ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs and Sports, mean the squad will be able to travel to India next month without restriction. The Asia Cup is scheduled for 27 August–7 September in Rajgir, Bihar. The same inter-ministerial clearance also covers the Junior Hockey World Cup, which India will host later this year. A ministry source said India differentiates between multilateral tournaments it is obligated to stage under international rules and bilateral series, which remain suspended. The decision follows months of heightened tensions after the April Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor. Officials acknowledged the strained political climate but argued that withdrawing invitations to accredited teams could breach global sporting commitments. Separately, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has not yet sought government guidance on a possible India-Pakistan cricket meeting at the Asia Cup in the UAE this September.