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New Delhi, September 18
India on Wednesday hit out at Pakistan for denying overflight clearance to PM Narendra Modi’s VVIP plane for his upcoming visit to the US, saying Islamabad should reflect upon its decision to deviate from well-established international practice.
Pakistan’s denial, citing “the current situation in Kashmir”, comes days after it refused permission to President Ram Nath Kovind’s aircraft to fly over it to Iceland. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: “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.”
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “India had requested to use airspace on September 21 and 28. In the light of the Kashmir situation, we have decided not to allow our airspace for the flight of the Indian PM.” — TNS