Modi set to use Pakistani airspace after returning from G20, COP26 summits

Indian premier’s plane will enter Bahawalpur late at night on its way back from Glasgow

KARACHI:

Narendra Modi's Boeing 777 plane will travel through Pakistani airspace tomorrow (Wednesday) morning on its way back from Italy and Scotland, where the Indian prime minister attended G20 and COP26 summits respectively.

The 300ER, K7066 will enter Bahawalpur at around 3am and it will travel through Turbat and Panjgur to reach New Delhi. It will then land at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesperson confirmed the authority had allowed Indian prime minister’s plane to pass through the Pakistani airspace.

Last week, after obtaining permission from Islamabad, Modi's aircraft crossed the Pakistani airspace and reached Italy to attend the G20 summit, held in its capital on October 30-31.

Also read: Modi allowed to use airspace to attend G20 summit

The special plane entered the Pakistani airspace using the same route and reached Italy via Iran and Turkey.

New Delhi had earlier requested permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to use the airspace, which was granted.

The two-day summit of the Group of 20 was held in Rome to endorse a global agreement for a minimum 15 per cent corporate tax. Indian premier had to travel to Italy to attend the meeting, for which it was necessary to use Pakistani airspace.

After attending the summit, the Indian prime minister travelled to Glasgow to attend COP26, a climate change summit called for countries to commit to reach the target of zero net emissions by 2050.

Modi, who is one of more than 120 leaders to have gathered in Glasgow for the two-week conference, promised to cut India’s emissions to net zero by 2070.

Indian commercial aircraft had also used Pakistani airspace in the past after obtaining licenses.