According to reports, the aircraft carrying PM Modi will not fly over Pakistan airspace during his visit to Kyrgyzstan for the SCO summit. The decision comes after Pakistan had approved in principle to let PM Modi’s aircraft fly over its airspace to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.
पीएम मोदी पाकिस्तान के हवाई क्षेत्र का इस्तेमाल नहीं करेंगे pic.twitter.com/TBOiTDOnIB
— Zee News Hindi (@ZeeNewsHindi) June 12, 2019
Instead of flying over Pakistan, PM Modi’s aircraft will fly over Oman, Iran, and central Asian countries on its way to Bishkek, the official spokesperson said.
MEA: Government of India had explored two options for the route to be taken by the VVIP Aircraft to Bishkek for the SCO Summit. A decision has now been taken that the VVIP Aircraft will fly via Oman, Iran and Central Asian countries on the way to Bishkek. pic.twitter.com/RKNJM8wrf7
— ANI (@ANI) June 12, 2019
India had earlier requested Pakistan to allow PM Modi’s aircraft to fly over its airspace to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) meet to be held on June 13-14. Pakistani officials confirmed Imran Khan government’s approval to allow PM Modi’s travel through its airspace to Bikshek.
Since the retaliatory airstrikes carried out by the Indian Airforce on the JeM terror camp in Pakistan’s Balakot, it has closed down its airspace fearing another such attack from the Indian Airforce. They have opened only 2 of the 11 routes since then that passes through southern Pakistan. Apart from these two routes, the neighbouring country’s airspace remains closed for other commercial flights. Due to this, the international flights that used to fly over Pakistan are having to use longer routes, and most airlines have chosen to fly over the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman, while some flights connecting Chinese cities are bypassing Pakistan from the northern side.
Earlier this year, Pakistan had permitted External Affairs Minister of India, Sushma Swaraj to fly through its airspace to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers’ meet in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on May 21.
The government of India had received flak for seeking permission to fly through Pakistan airspace. Many political analysts observed that Indian Prime Minister’s visit through Pakistan airspace would undo India’s assiduous measures to single out Pakistan internationally.
The current move of bypassing Pakistan airspace and flying through central Asian countries reaffirms India’s policy of isolating Pakistan for its support to terror outfits against her.
