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| July 24, 2002 | Wednesday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13,1423 |
Musharraf’s air route irks India
NEW DELHI, July 23: India, responding to President Pervez Musharraf’s decision to avoid its airspace during his flight to Dhaka next week, accused Pakistan on Tuesday of lacking in sincerity to reduce tensions with New Delhi.
“It is for him to choose the route he wants to take”, an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson told reporters when asked about the military ruler’s decision against availing India’s recent permission to Pakistan aircraft to use its airspace.
Gen Musharraf is scheduled to start a three-day official visit to Dhaka from July 29.
Press Trust of India quoted Rao as rejecting Pakistan’s claim that India was desperately awaiting lifting of over-flight restrictions by Islamabad. “We keep hearing this sort of fantasising.”
“It is not new. We are not impressed with it. It only shows Pakistan’s lack of sincerity for reducing tensions between India and Pakistan”, she said adding: “It is a telling indication of that”.
Last month India had revoked its restrictions on over-flight facilities to Pakistani aircraft on a reciprocal basis but Islamabad termed the step as “cosmetic and self-serving”.
Pakistan’s restrictions on over-flight facilities to Indian aircraft remain in intact.
The Indian spokesperson said while Indian airspace has been opened to Pakistani aircraft, Islamabad has chosen not to respond to this “constructive gesture for reasons best known to it”.—JN
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