Pakistan denies Indian president's request to use its airspace for overflight
Pakistan has decided to refuse a request by India to allow its president to use Pakistani airspace for his flight to Iceland, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced on Saturday.
The decision to deny Indian President Ram Nath Kovind the use of Pakistani airspace was approved by Prime Minister Imran Khan in view of India's continuing oppression of the people in occupied Kashmir, the minister told state broadcaster PTV.
Qureshi said New Delhi's "barbarism" in Kashmir was a serious issue which he would take up with the United Nations Human Rights Council.
See: India throttling media in occupied Kashmir, says report
He noted that 34 days have elapsed since Indian authorities imposed a crippling curfew in occupied Kashmir before revoking the region's special autonomy.
The minister said Pakistan has shown "restraint" in reaction to India's moves in Kashmir but that New Delhi is refusing to budge from its stubbornness and denying basic facilities to the residents of occupied Kashmir.
"In view of this, we have decided to not allow the Indian president to use our airspace" for his flight to Iceland, he told PTV.
The decision comes at a time of high tension between Pakistan and India following the Indian government's decision to unilaterally revoke Article 370 of its constitution, which granted special autonomy to occupied Kashmir. A communications blackout and heavy restrictions on movement imposed by the Indian authorities from the eve of this development have been in place for over a month now.
Following India's decision to repeal Article 370, Pakistan downgraded diplomatic relations with New Delhi and suspended all bilateral trade. The Indian ambassador was asked to leave and train and bus services with India were also suspended.
The government has also been considering closing the entire Pakistani airspace to Indian flights.
Federal Minister for Aviation Ghulam Sarwar Khan had told a press conference earlier this week that the government had so far not taken any decision to close the eastern airspace to commercial flights from India; however “we have reserved the right to do so and it would be utilised at an appropriate time”.
In February, Pakistan had closed its airspace to Indian traffic after aerial dogfights following the Pulwama attack ratcheted up tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi. It reopened its skies for all civilian traffic in July, ending months of restrictions affecting major international routes.
Comments (69) Closed
That's good.
Shame on India for making this request.
Well done Pakistan! So proud of u!
Great decision by the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Well done, keep it up and hang on tough.
excellent
Good decision
A wrong decision.
Correct decision
Well done Pakistan.
Take the bus
Good decision - those in power who are complicit in what’s happening in Kashmir or turning a blind eye should be targeted like this.. ordinary Indian citizens who aren’t involved should not be inconvenienced...
i am elated to see that pakistan's sense of self respect is reasserting itself after a lapse of countless years.achievement of self reliance should also be a priority.
Another humiliation Infront of the world for India. Only a regional power like Pakistan can do this to the delight of smaller nations in the region.
It's bad.
India can always fly over China after they give permission.
Bad decision...
Good news.
Good work by Pakistan
That's Naya Pakistan. That's what we expect.
Stay hard on hindutva leaders. Down with hindu supremacy
Why Air Space is still open for all flights landing and departing to and from India??
Not a way to improve relations!!’
A brilliant decision. Keep up taking such decisions.
Outstanding decision. A forceful clear message to India.You can't have your cake and eat it too?
Very good decision......
Good decision in the present circumstances and, I suggest that air space is blocked for all Indian air traffic until Modi lifts the curfew and let Kashmiri people leave their normal life in IOK. Show no mercy to Modi!
(Note: I'm the orginal 'Anti-Corruption_Pakistani account holder for 3 years. Be aware of fake ID's).
Influentials cannot be investigated and let off any crime but people like Salah Uddin loose life during investigations for taking out the stuck card from the ATM. Will we have justice ever in our country as we are now loosing hopes rapidly
It's Pak air space, and Pak can allow / deny. Nothing wrong in it.
Show them the might of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Let them take longer routes preferably the sea ones. Boycott everything they produce, never to buy them again and tell your children not to listen to their songs and watch their movies.
Modi took a tortuous complicated route even when permitted by Pakistan to fly over Pakistan airspace. Makes absolutely no sense when India asks for such permissions over and over again!!!
Well done Pakistan showing Guts to India. Donot let them use your space any of them. They are killer of innocent Kashmiri. Shame Shame and shame
Great achievement!
Keep the diplomatic pressure on because ultimately this issue, which stands internationalized now, will have to be sorted out by world powers, knowing well its urgency and being a source of possible war between the two nuclear armed nations.
Childish on part of Pakistan.
But this is not enough. The real commitment will be evident only if all schedule flights are also banned.
Why not deny all Indian aircrafts use of Pakistan's airspace? It should've been done soon after August 5th.
The denial of use of Pakistan airspace should apply to all aircrafts owned by Indian entities including airlines. Should've been done soon after August 5th Indian government act.
What a achievement!!!
Why stoop so low?
Very dignified step.
Impressive
Everything comes with the cost....
Ok, noted .
How childish
Oh, what an achievement Minister!
What a stupid idea What will it accomplish
Unfortunate missed opportunity to further dialogue with India...
Gordon D. Walker
Canada
There has to be cost for every action.
Well-Done Pakistan. Love it.
Sorry Pakistan! it is wrong answer.
Not necessary
The empty bravado now? Let's learn to talk normally.
Bravo, great accomplishment!
@Saad, good question!
Good
India will not now to such trivial pressure...will only make India more determined to continue doing what it is doing now....
@Thiru, why?
@Fiza Khan, why?
Wow, such a befitted response!
Pakistan is very strong country period
Lets keep it closed and let them take the longer route. Last time we did this, Jet Airways went belly losing millions and this time Air India will too.
Fair enough, and a decent way to show displeasure, register a protest. At least now the rhetorics have matured!
India asking this request for some political purpose. It's a trap. Pakistan's inexperienced leaders are fallen as expected. Avoid Pakistan's airspace is not big deal for india.
What about import of emergency medicines from India. When are we stopping that or our protest is only limited to lame things like not allowing airspace ??
A very assertive step. Surely India will fall in line now.
Good. But I just heard that Indian Government has imposed 100% tax on 'life savings medicines' we are importing from India as retaliatiob. So what? Principles are important. Common peope can always find some other medicines, can't they?
Pakistan want medicine from India .How convinient .India should ban any export.
Good step taken by Pakistan.
Close Pakistani air space for any Indian flight.