Pakistan denies use of airspace to PM Modi

Islamabad conveyed to the Indian High Commission that it will not allow the use of Pakistan's air space for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flight.

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday rejected India's request to allow over its air space for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flight to the US later this week.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said, "We have conveyed to the Indian High Commission that we will not allow to use our air space for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flight."

Earlier in the day, India had made a formal request to Pakistan for the usage of its airspace for Modi's flight.

PM Modi is due to depart for the US to participate in the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Previously, Islamabad had denied overflight clearance to President Ram Nath Kovind's flight to Iceland earlier this month.

Even though Islamabad has been threatening to completely close its airspace to India since the abrogation of Article 370, no official notification has been issued so far in this regard.

Following New Delhi's decision, Islamabad has unilaterally downgraded its diplomatic relations with India and partially closed its airspace.

However, the Prime Minister had used the Pakistani airspace to travel to France for a bilateral meet last month.

Islamabad had also partially shut off its airspace for Indian flights after New Delhi abrogated Article 370 that accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir.