PM Shehbaz says Pakistan will boycott India match in solidarity with Banglades

A meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was held in Islamabad on Wednesday where key political, economic and security matters came under discussion.

PM Sharif informed the cabinet that Pakistan will not play a match against India in the T20 World Cup in solidarity with Bangladesh. “We have taken a clear stand regarding the T20 World Cup that we will not play the match against India,” he said. “There should be no politics in sports,” he said. “We have taken this stand after deliberating on it carefully,” he said, calling it an “appropriate decision”.  

Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to the complete eradication of terrorism, particularly in the backdrop of recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan. He emphasized that the federal government, with the support of all provinces, relevant institutions and the people, would continue efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country.

On the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, the prime minister conveyed a message of solidarity with the Kashmiri people on behalf of the Government of Pakistan and the entire nation. He briefed the cabinet about his recent meeting with the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing it as positive and focused on mutual cooperation and coordination between the federation and the province for the national development and prosperity.

The cabinet offered Fateha for Azad Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mahmood and the citizens, security personnel and law enforcement officials who were martyred in the recent terrorist attack in Balochistan. Sharif issued instructions that heads of all government institutions must ensure thorough verification of facts in summaries sent to the cabinet and its sub-committees, and that authorized officers should personally attend meetings.

During the session, the federal cabinet gave in-principle approval to the decisions taken in the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) held on February 3, 2026, the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises meeting on January 9, 2026, and the Cabinet Committee on Legal Affairs and Legislation (CCLC) meeting on January 29, 2026.

He briefed members on Pakistan’s strong diplomatic engagement with neighbouring countries, highlighting the recent visit of the president of Kazakhstan and the upcoming visit of the president of Uzbekistan.