Pakistan expelled 23 Indian nationals working for a Pakistani super League distribution partner in response to increasing diplomatic tensions following the recent pahalgam incident in Jammu-et-Cachemire of Indian origin (IIOJK).
Indian staff were part of a technical team contracted by a broadcasting company to cover the 10th edition of the HBL PSL, which started on April 11 and should take place until May 18.
The decision was made after the Indian streaming platform Fancode suspended HBL PSL live in India and deleted all the associated video content, including the protruding facts, following the Pahalgam incident. In retaliation, the Pakistani authorities ordered the Indian crew to immediately leave the country.
“The 23 staff members were escorted at the Wagah border under VIP security and returned to India after completing customs and immigration formalities,” a security official confirmed.
This decision comes while passages at the borders remain closed among the increasing tensions between the two nuclear weapons neighbors. The organizers of HBL PSL had granted high -level security to the Indian team, recognizing their role in international sports coverage.
Sources have said that Indian radiudiffusers Sony Network, which holds satellite rights for HBL PSL, could also take similar measures, which raises concerns about the future visibility of the League in India.
The ejection of Indian media personnel marks a rare but significant change in sports diplomacy, analysts warning that he could compromise cross -border collaborations in the next cricket events, including the Asian Cup and the Champions Trophy.
“This Tit-For-Tat decision shows how much cricket diplomacy has become between India and Pakistan,” noted a senior sports journalist.
Earlier, the National Security Committee (NSC) warned on Thursday that any attempt from India to block water flow in Pakistan would be treated as an act of war.
The press release follows a high -level NSC meeting, which also approved the closure of the Wagah border passage. The measures were announced in response to a series of measures taken by India following a fatal attack in the Pahalgam region of the Indians illegally occupied the Jammu and the cashmere (iiojk).
A press release published by the Prime Minister’s office spoke concerned about the loss of lives and called the subsequent measures of India “unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal merit”.
The press release indicates that India’s response violates international standards, United Nations Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.
