Modi allowed to use airspace to attend G20 summit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks at the UN General Assembly. PHOTO: AFP
After obtaining permission from Islamabad, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plane crossed the Pakistani airspace and reached Italy on Saturday, to attend the G20 summit, the Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson said on Saturday.
The Indian premier’s plane Boeing 777, 300ER, K7066 entered the Pakistani airspace from Bahawalpur, passed through Turbat and Panjgur and via Iran and Turkey reached Italy.
According to CAA sources, a special plane of the Indian prime minister had taken off from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.
New Delhi had requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to use the airspace. Pakistan accepted it.
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A two-day (Oct 30-31) summit of the Group of 20 is ongoing in Rome to formally endorse a global agreement for a minimum 15 per cent corporate tax.
The Indian Prime Minister had to go to Italy to attend the meeting, for which it was necessary to use Pakistani airspace.
According to the CAA spokesperson, on the way back from the European country, Modi’s plane will also use Pakistan's airspace to return to India.
Earlier, Indian commercial aircraft also used Pakistani airspace after obtaining licenses.