Rijiju Defends India Playing Pakistan in Asia Cup: ‘Not Bilateral, But a Multinational Event’

By A Staff Reporter

Mumbai: Amid political criticism over India facing Pakistan in the Asia Cup, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday defended the decision, stressing that the match was not a bilateral engagement but part of a larger multinational tournament.

“As far as this cricket match is concerned, it is not a bilateral game between India and Pakistan. If India does not play in the Asia Cup, then India will be out,” Rijiju explained.

Drawing parallels with global sporting events, he said, “The Olympics and the Asia Cup are not for Pakistan; they are for the whole world. India has not played a bilateral match in Pakistan. Pakistan has not been invited separately. If we do not go to the Olympics because of our enmity with a country, who will suffer the loss?”

Urging clarity in public debate, Rijiju added, “The sentiment is right, but there should be rational thinking behind the sentiment. India is not playing a bilateral match with Pakistan separately, but tournaments like the Olympics, Asian Games, Asian Championship, World Cup, and Asia Cup are multi-national, multi-lateral, all nations play together, there is no separate game between Pakistan and India.”