Pakistan refuses India’s request to use airspace for Modi’s flight to Germany

The government of Pakistan on Wednesday has announced its decision to not grant the Indian request to use Pakistan’s airspace for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his flight to Germany.

In a video statement, Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, “India had requested that Modi be allowed to use the Pakistani airspace on his way to Germany on September 20, and then on September 28 on his way back. Keeping in mind the current situation in Kashmir, the permission has been denied, and this has also been conveyed to the Indian High Commission”

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the decision had been made “keeping in view the situation in occupied Kashmir”.

“Keeping in view the situation in occupied Kashmir and India’s attitude witnessed in the tyranny and oppression [suffered by Kashmiris] and the violations of rights in the region, we have decided not to grant this request,” he said.

The request comes in times of high tensions between the two neighboring countries, Pakistan and India following the Indian government’s decision to unilaterally revoke Article 370 of its constitution, which granted special autonomy to occupied Kashmir.

Earlier this month, Pakistan denied India’s President Ram Nath Kovind permission to fly through its airspace – access to which is usually granted – due to New Delhi’s “behaviour”.

“The decision has been taken in view of India’s behaviour,” Qureshi had said in a statement.

“The Indian President had sought permission to use Pakistan’s airspace to travel to Iceland but we decided not to permit him,” Qureshi added without giving further details.