Pakistan has exhibited 23 Indian citizens working for a Pakistan Super League TV partner in response to rising diplomatic tensions following the recent Pahagam event in Indian-managed Kashmir.

The Indian staff was part of a technical team concluded by a TV company to cover the 10th edition of HBL PSL, which began on April 11 and is planned to run until 18 May.

The decision came after the Indian streaming platform fancode suspended HBL PSL LIVE streaming in India and removed all associated video content, including highlights, after the Pahagam event. In return, Pakistani authorities ordered the Indian crew to leave the country immediately.

“The 23 employees were escorted to the Wagah border under VIP safety and sent back to India after completing customs and immigration formalities,” a security official confirmed.

The move comes when border crossings remain closed in the middle of escalating tension between the two nuclear armed neighbors. HBL PSL organizers had given the high-level Indian team to the Indian team that recognized their role in international sports coverage.

Sources said that Indian TV stations Sony Network, which has satellite rights for HBL PSL, can also take similar steps, which raises concerns about the league’s future visibility in India.

The draft of Indian media staff marks a rare but significant shift in sports diplomacy, with analysts warning that it could jeopardize cross -border collaborations in upcoming cricket events, including the Asia Cup and Champions Trophy.

“This tit-for-tate feature shows how fragile cricket diplomacy has become between India and Pakistan,” noted a senior sports journalist.

Previously, 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 statement followed a high-level NSC meeting, which also approved the closure of the Wagah boundary transition. The measures were announced in response to a number of steps taken by India following a deadly attack in the Pahagam area of ​​Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

A statement from the Prime Minister’s office expressed concern about the loss of life and called India’s subsequent measures “unilateral, unfair, politically motivated, extremely irresponsible and devoid of legal profits.”

The statement said that India’s response violates international norms, the United Nations Security Council’s resolutions and bilateral agreements.