India PM Modi’s aircraft will not overfly Pakistan: Indian foreign ministry

Pakistan had earlier granted permission for overflight to VVIP aircraft

ISLAMABAD: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's will not be flying over Pakistan despite Islamabad earlier today granting the Indian government's request to allow airspace access.

According to Hindustan Times, PM Modi will fly via Oman and Iran to reach Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek.

A spokesperson for the Indian foreign ministry said New Delhi had explored two options for the route to be taken by the VVIP aircraft to Bishkek, added the Indian publication.

“A decision has now been taken that the VVIP aircraft will fly via Oman, Iran and Central Asian countries on the way to Bishkek,” the foreign ministry statement said.

However, according to Pakistani government sources, PM Modi's aircraft will use Pakistani airspace via the southern air corridor, opened earlier in March for overflights by Indian commercial aircraft.

"PM Modi’s plane will overfly Pakistani airspace from Karachi, Hingol to Iran/Oman via Gwadar," the source added.

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.

New Delhi requests Pakistani airspace access for Modi

Pakistan’s airspace along the eastern border with India is expected to remain closed until June 14, in a recent extension, following the February 27 stand-off between the two arch-rival nations.

Relations between the two nuclear-armed countries remained sour after the February 14 suicide attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir’s (IoK) Pulwama district killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary soldiers.