Pakistan yet to respond to India's request for airspace access for Modi: FO

Indian media claims Islamabad grants permission to New Delhi

Pakistan is yet to respond to the request made by New Delhi to let Indian 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.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said "Pakistan has not yet granted permission to let Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aircraft fly over its airspace."

His comments follow reports from Indian media that Islamabad had, in principle, granted permission to let Modi's aircraft fly over Pakistani airspace.

The Times of India quoted an unnamed official as saying that the Imran Khan government has approved in principle the Indian government's request.



"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 Indian news website quoted the official as saying.

The Indian government on Sunday requested Pakistan to allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft to fly over Pakistani airspace on June 13.

The requisition, dispatched by the Indian High Commission, outlined that Modi would like to access Pakistan’s airspace while flying to Bishkek.

Prime Minister Imran Khan and his Indian counterpart are both scheduled to attend a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Kyrgyzstan from June 13 to 14.