Pakistan Turns Down India's Request To Allow PM Modi's Flight To Pass Through Its Air Space

On the backdrop of a tensed bilateral ties between both the countries, Pakistan on Wednesday denied India's request to allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plane to pass through its air space for this upcoming trip to the United States.

India had sent a formal request to Pakistan seeking permission to use its airspace. (File Photo/ PIB)

New Delhi: On the backdrop of a tensed bilateral ties between both the countries, Pakistan on Wednesday denied India's request to allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plane to pass through its air space for this upcoming trip to the United States for UN General Assembly later this week. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a video interview, said that India had made a request that Prime Minister Modi's aircraft be allowed overflight on September 20 while flying towards Germany on way to the US, and on its return journey on September 28. "But keeping in mind Kashmir and India's attitude and its human rights violations, we have decided against granting overflight. And the decision has been conveyed to the Indian High Commission," he said. According to reports, India had requested to use Pakistan's airspace for PM Modi's foreign visit on September 20 and September 28. Earlier in the day, India had sent a formal request to Pakistan seeking permission to use its airspace for Prime Minister's upcoming US visit on September 21-27. After India made the request, Islamabad said it would respond to the request after consultations. However, Pakistan has now made it clear that it will not let India use its airspace. Reacting to Islamabad's action, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that Pakistan was deviating from well established international practice. "We regret the decision of the Government of Pakistan to deny overflight clearance for the VVIP special flight for a second time in two weeks, which is otherwise granted routinely by any normal country," Kumar told media. "Pakistan should reflect upon its decision to deviate from well established international practice, as well as reconsider its old habit of misrepresenting the reasons for taking unilateral action," he said. Last week, Pakistan had similarly refused permission for President Ram Nath Kovind's aircraft for overflight through Pakistani airspace.