Highlights
- Pakistan has declined a request by India to allow PM Modi to use its airspace for US flight
- Pakistan informed India that it will not allow PM Narendra Modi to fly over its airspace, said Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi
- PM Modi set to fly to United States later this week
NEW DELHI: Pakistan has turned down an overflight request by India to allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fly over its airspace during his flight to the US later this week.
Indian media reported Pakistan's refusal on Wednesday. Times of India reported that the request made by New Delhi to Islamabad follows the protocol, since Air India One is not a commercial flight but a VIP one.
“Pakistan on Wednesday informed India that it will not allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fly over its airspace,” Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, was quoted as saying by ANI.
Indian news sites also reported that the longer route to be used in the Delhi to Frankfurt, Germany (refuelling stop) will add 45 to 50 minutes of flying time to the PM's flight.
From Germany, the onward flight will take the Prime Minister and his party to Houston, Texas.
