Vol. 4 No. 1 (2021): Pakistan Journal of International Affairs
Articles

PAKISTAN-INDIA RELATIONS: USING SPORTS AS A TOOL OF DIPLOMACY

Published 2021-03-29

Abstract

On August 14, 1947, the former British Indian Colony of India was partitioned in half, resulting in the establishment of the sovereign country of Pakistan. The tensions between Pakistan and India have not subsided and there are still many unresolved issues between them. The conflict over Kashmir, which has had a devasting effect on the economy of both countries, is at the centre of the disagreement that exists between the two countries. Even though it has been discussed in international organisations like the United Nations Organization for the last seventy-three years, the issue in Kashmir has not yet been resolved. Tensions are at an all-time high on both sides of the border. At the Wagha border, there is an interesting tradition that involves lowering flags, but the chanting of slogans from both sides just serves to provoke additional enmity between the people of the two countries. In spite of the many obstacles that now stand in the way of communication between the two nations, there is still reason for hope. During times of intense conflict, cricket was often used as a productive means of fostering peace and understanding. As a direct consequence of this, there is now more understanding as well as peace between the two nations. The game of cricket has been instrumental in fostering better relations between countries. The most popular sport in both countries, cricket, has been disrupted as a result of the escalations and has been put on hold for a variety of different amounts of time. The game of cricket has made it easier for people from other nations to get married to one another; for instance, a number of Pakistani players have tied the knot with Indians. It has been shown that an addiction to the sport of cricket exists among followers in both Pakistan and India. It gets the fans excited and ready to cheer for the cricketers by giving them something to look forward to