No final decision yet on airspace closure: FM

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Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday clarified that the government has not yet taken a final decision to impose a blanket ban on India using Pakistan’s airspace.

Talking to reporters outside the head offices of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Qureshi said the issue did come up for discussions during the recent federal cabinet meeting but the final decision in this regard would be taken by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

His statement came after the science and technology minister took to the twitter on Tuesday and announced that the government was considering “complete closure of airspace to India and complete ban on use of Pakistan land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan”. He said legal options were being explored before taking the final decision.

Separately, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar also confirmed that the federal cabinet did discuss the issue. He went on to add that final decision was expected soon. The federal cabinet also expressed concerns over allowing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use the Pakistani airspace, demanding a complete ban on Indian flights.

But the latest statement by the foreign minister suggested that the government was still contemplating whether to take such a decision.

Pakistan has already downgraded diplomatic ties with India and suspended the bilateral trade in reaction to New Delhi’s decision on August 5 regarding revoking the special status of disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.

Meanwhile, Qureshi as part of Pakistan’s diplomatic offensive on Wednesday telephoned the Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah, to apprise him of the latest developments in the Indian-Occupied Kashmir (IOK).

The foreign minister highlighted the gross human rights violations being committed by the Indian forces in IOK since India’s illegal and unilateral actions, said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

Qureshi said that the dire human rights and humanitarian situation, resulting from the total lockdown of IOK, required urgent and effective response from the international community.

He added that International human rights bodies and the global media have highlighted the Indian atrocities, including suppression of religious freedom on the occasion of Eidul Azha.

The foreign minister further underlined that India might try to divert the world’s attention from these grave human rights violations by staging a false flag operation and placing the blame on Pakistan.

Qureshi expressed appreciation for Kuwait’s constructive engagement as a member of the UN Security Council.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah thanked the Foreign Minister for his detailed briefing. He noted with concern the deteriorating situation in IOK and underlined the need for preventive steps and peaceful resolution of disputes.