Pak lets Narendra Modi’s aircraft to fly over its airspace to Bishkek
New Delhi, June 11: Pakistan has decided in principle to let Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aircraft fly over its airspace to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan where he has to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on June 13-14, where his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan would also be present.
Pakistan had fully closed its airspace on February 26 after an Indian Air Force (IAF) strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot. Since then, it has only opened two routes, both of them pass through southern Pakistan, of the total 11.
India requested Pakistan to let Modi's aircraft fly over its airspace to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.
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The official confirmed to PTI that the Imran Khan government has approved in principle the Indian government's request to let Modi's aircraft fly over the Pakistani airspace to Bishkek. "The Indian government will be conveyed about the decision once the procedural formalities are completed. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will also be directed to notify the airmen subsequently," the official said, adding Pakistan was hopeful that India would respond to its offer for peace dialogue.
He said Khan has recently written a letter to his Indian counterpart stressing Pakistan requires a solution for all geopolitical issues including Kashmir between the two neighbours.
The
official
further
said
Pakistan
is
still
optimistic
that
India
will
respond
to
peace
offer
despite
the
fact
both
premiers
were
not
meeting
at
the
sidelines
of
the
SCO
Summit.
No
bilateral
meeting
has
been
planned
between
Modi
and
Khan
on
the
sidelines
of
the
SCO
Summit.
Pakistan had given special permission to India's then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to fly directly through Pakistan airspace to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers' meet in Bishkek on May 21.
Apart from the two routes through southern Pakistan, the neighbouring country's airspace remains closed for commercial airliners.
The IAF announced on May 31 that all temporary restrictions imposed on Indian airspace post the Balakot airstrike have been removed. However, it is unlikely to benefit any commercial airliners unless Pakistan reciprocates and opens its complete airspace.
Among Indian airlines, the international operations of Air India and IndiGo have been affected by the closure of Pakistani airspace.
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IndiGo has been unable to start direct flights from Delhi to Istanbul due to the closure of Pakistani airspace. The low-cost carrier started the Delhi-Istanbul flight in March 2019. It has to take the longer route every time over the Arabian Sea and make a stop either at Doha in Qatar or at Ahmedabad for refuelling.
Similarly, full-service carrier Air India is unable to fly non-stop flights from Delhi to the US since the closure of Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan, however, has extended its partial airspace ban on eastern border with India until June 14