New Delhi:
India has made a formal request to Pakistan to allow the use of its airspace for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flight to the United States, Pakistani media has reported.
"India has formally requested Pakistan to allow the use of its air space for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flight to New York, US. Pakistan to respond after consultations: Pakistan media," news agency ANI reported on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the US from September 21-27.
India has formally requested Pakistan to allow use of its air space for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flight to New York, US. Pakistan to respond after consultations: Pakistan media
— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2019
Earlier, Pakistan had denied permission to President Ram Nath Kovind's aircraft to fly over its airspace during an official trip to Iceland. At that time, India criticised and asked Islamabad to recognise the "futility" of such unilateral actions.
India's reaction came after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that Pakistan has refused India's request to allow Kovind to use its airspace for his flight to Iceland.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said India regretted Pakistan's decision to deny overflight clearance for the VVIP special flight.
Qureshi was quoted as saying by Pakistan's state-broadcaster PTV that the decision to deny Pakistan airspace by Kovind was approved by Prime Minister Imran Khan in view of the tense situation in Kashmir.
Pakistan had fully closed its airspace in February after an Indian Air Force strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot. The country opened its airspace for all flights except for New Delhi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on March 27. The country fully opened its airspace for all civilian traffic on July 16.
