Pakistan allowed Indian PM and Minister to use airway for Bishkek trip: FO

Official spokesperson of the Foreign office (FO) in a statement said that India had in fact asked for allowance to access Pakistan’s airway for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sushma Swaraj’s flights to Bishkek, ARY News reported.

“Following designated protocols, special permission was granted to the Indian PM and Indian External Affairs Minister today,” Dr. Muhamad Faisal tweeted.

Read More: PM Imran, Modi to meet in Bishkek on sidelines of SCO summit: media report

The tweet read: ” India requested 2 overflight clearances for Indian PM & EAM. After requisite processing, permission was granted earlier today. It is upto India what route it decides to use. Pakistan also granted flight clearance to earlier Indian request for EAM travel to Bishkek 21-22 May 2019.”

India requested 2 overflight clearances for Indian PM & EAM. After requisite processing, permission was granted earlier today. It is upto India what route it decides to use.
Pakistan also granted flight clearance to earlier Indian request for EAM travel to Bishkek 21-22 May 2019.

— Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) June 12, 2019

In May, Pakistan granted the request of India to let its Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj overflight to attend the SCO summit in Bishkek.

Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Faisal said that the Indian government had made the request to avoid longer route.

Sushma Swaraj had attended the SCO meeting of foreign ministers in Krgyzstan on May 21 and 22, along with Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

The Pakistani airspace is closed for all commercial flights on its eastern border.

Pakistan took the decision to shut its airspace on February 27, sending India a strong message and forcing carriers to reroute flights, after an aerial dogfight between Pakistan and Indian air forces.

Read More: Modi refuses to use Pakistani airspace

An Indian news outlet had reported Modi’s refusal to use Pakistan’s airspace for the important trip, earlier in the day.

The Hindu reported that India had forwarded the request to Pakistani officials to let Modi’s overflight to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan during June 13-14 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi refused the overflight of his aircraft from Pakistani airspace, despite receiving the permission from Islamabad.