Diplomacy and Anti-diplomacy of Sports in Indo-Pak Relations

 The recent SCO summit in Pakistan found some warmer moments during the informal exchanges between India and Pakistan. In the present global context it is quite imperative for the two nations to engage into diplomatic interactions. And whenever the two countries found themselves into a diplomatic deadlocks  only the sports have the potential to heal the bitterness between the two countries.In the complex geopolitical relationship between India and Pakistan cricket has often helped bridge the distance between the two countries. The common thread that can stitch the tattered relationship between the two rivals is the game of  cricket. The sport is widely played  and is also considered another form of  religion in the Indian sub-continent. It is learnt from the newspaper report that this time also cricket has appeared on the table. During the discussion between Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers- S. Jaishankar and Ishaq Dar- Pakistani interior minister Mohsin Naqvi joined them and showed keenness to host Indian Cricket team during the Champions Trophy that is scheduled to be held in Pakistan in early 2025.Due to their soured relationship India has not toured Pakistan since 2008. The last tournament that Indian Cricket team played there was Asia Cup. The world has moved on but the tension between the two countries remains constant. Now it is the time to break the ice and move on to the path of peace for the welfare of the people of South Asia. And in this endeavour Sports Diplomacy can show the right way. However, there are certain anti-diplomatic cleavages generated as a result of  the popular jingoism, often auguring  from the narrow domestic political leverages of the ruling dispensations and religious fundamentalists. 

The Text and Context 

In his recently published book "Sports Diplomacy: Origins, Theory and Practice" Dr. Stuart Murray has elaborately discussed the idea and the scope of Sports Diplomacy in present world. According to him, sports diplomacy is much more than the soft power. It is the strategic use of sports to bring people, nations and institutions closer together via a shared love of physical pursuit. He has drawn our attention towards the diplomatic perspective of sports with a special focus on the process, actors involved and networks created by states and non-state actors and international sport. 

The use of sport as a diplomatic tool has a very long history. In ancient times Olympiad began in 776 BCE as a tribute to Greek god Zeus, the god of sky and father of all gods and goddesses. But soon it began to influence the diplomatic relations of the Greek city states. During the event truce prevailed to facilitate the athletes, officials and spectators to move from one place to another. During the Cold-War period nine US table tennis players traveled to China in April, 1971 marking the start of 'ping-pong' diplomacy that improved people-to-people  understanding leading to cultural exchanges and helped establish diplomatic relations between the US and China. In recent time  the militant group LTTE declared a ceasefire with the government of Sri Lanka for the duration of 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Cricket as a Diplomatic Tool 

Cricket, the most popular sport in both India and Pakistan, has played an outsized role in bilateral relationship between the two countries. Over the decades, the cricket matches, especially during tournaments such as the ICC World Cup and Asia Cup, have served as a pretext for high level diplomatic engagements. For example, in 1987 during a peak in tensions, the then Pakistani President Zia-ul- Haq initiated 'cricket diplomacy' by attending a match between the two countries in India. For the moment it eased the tensions between the two countries. Likewise, in 2004 after a break of 15 long years India toured Pakistan in the wake of diplomatic initiative and subsequently relaxed their tough visa policy for each other allowing thousands of sports lover to travel across the border. In 2005 Pakistan toured India for the Friendship Series and the atmosphere surrounding the games led to the brief period of friendly relations.  during the 2011 Cricket World Cup semifinal is believed to have eased tensions between the two countries after the polarising 2008 Mumbai attack.The the Prime minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh invited his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani to watch the match with him at Mohali. Gilani accepted the invitation and they watched the match together.  

The Shadow of Anti-diplomacy 

On the other side there prevails a dark shadow of anti-diplomacy over the game of cricket. The term anti-diplomacy is comparatively modern term which is interpreted as a way to manipulate tensions and anxieties. It emphasizes and perpetuates  the images of 'radical otherness'. 'Anti-diplomacy' refers to an action that undermines formal diplomatic efforts, often escalating tensions rather than resolving them It is very common in the states of Indian subcontinent to polarise the public opinion in the name of patriotism.Therefore despite its potential as a diplomatic tool, cricket has also been a battleground where tensions between India and Pakistan manifest in the form of anti-diplomacy. Matches between India and Pakistan are not an ordinary sporting event but emotionally charged spectacles that carry national pride and political overtones. Victory and defeats in a match is often viewed with symbolic pride or humiliation with the media and public sentiment amplifying nationalistic fervour.  

Moreover, in the context of Indo-Pak events security concern looms large among the organisers. The terrorist outfits find it easier to attract the global attention by attacking global sporting events.  On 3rd March, 2009 there was an attack on a bus carrying Sri Lankan cricket team to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The attack is believed to have been carried out by Lashkar-e- Jhangvi, a Deobandi supremacist terrorist organisation. The irony is that the Sri Lankan cricket team was visiting Pakistan as the Indian team had pulled out after the Mumbai terror attack in 2008 raising the security concerns. 

A Path Forward

A few months back Saroj Devi, mother of Neeraj Chopra, won the hearts of the millions when she expressed her happiness even after her son missed the gold medal to Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem in Olympics. She also considered Nadeem's victory as her son's. The comment was widely praised for raising the spirit of sportsmanship and connecting the two nations transcending rivalries. Cricketers like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi are all very popular as well as widely venerated sports persons in both the countries. They certainly can play the role of peace ambassador for their respective countries. 

As we look to the future, the potential for sports to serve as a powerful diplomatic tool remains momentous. By embracing the spirit of cooperation and understanding inherent in sports, the two nations can work together to address the challenges and promote peace and foster cultural exchanges. But at the same time it must be considered that whenever such peace initiatives begin some sections of political and religious fundamentalists become active to derail the process. Consequently the chances of terrorist threats increase. On that account the political bosses of the countries must express their determination to curb these contingent events and ensure security of the people and players. It is a poignant reminder that, while politics may divide us, sports can have unite us transcending borders and creating better future for the people living in the sub-continent.