UN Body Seeks Pak’s Response on Denying Airspace to Modi’s Flight

Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that it denied airspace to PM Modi’s flight due to alleged human rights violations in J&K.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(Photo: IANS)

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) on Tuesday, 29 October, acknowledged India’s concern regarding Pakistan refusal to let Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plane go through its airspace to Saudi Arabia, according to ANI.

ICAO also sought information from Pakistan regarding this.

After Pakistan denied the overflight clearance to PM Modi’s VVIP flight again, India had taken the denial of airspace to the ICAO.

ICAO’s Council President Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu “has acknowledged the letter from India and has sent an official request to Pakistan requesting further information,” an official statement read, according to ANI.

However, ICAO stated that flights carrying national leaders are considered as “state aircraft” and are not subject to its provisions.

“The Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), which ICAO helps governments to cooperate under, only applies to the operations of civilian aircraft and not to state or military aircraft,” the ICAO spokesperson said.

"Flights carrying national leaders are considered state aircraft, and are therefore not subject to ICAO provisions," the spokesperson added.  The ICAO is a specialised UN agency and its main job is to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).

‘We Regret The Decision of Pakistan’

The sources told ANI that the clearances are sought and granted by other countries as per the prescribed guidelines of the ICAO. “We regret the decision of Pakistan to yet again deny the overflight clearance for VVIP special flight, which is otherwise granted as routine by any country,” they were quoted by ANI as saying.

In a statement, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan has decided not to allow Prime Minister Modi to use the country’s airspace, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

He said the decision has been taken in context of the “black day” and in view of the alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, it added.

Qureshi said the Indian High Commissioner is being informed of this decision in written form.

In September, Pakistan rejected India's request to allow Prime Minister Modi's flight to use its airspace for his visit to the US to attend the UN General Assembly.

Pakistan also refused India's request to allow President Ram Nath Kovind to use its airspace for his flight to Iceland in the same month.

Pakistan observed a black day on Sunday, 27 October in support of Kashmiris.

Pakistan fully closed its airspace in February after an Indian Air Force strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot. The country opened its airspace for all flights except for New Delhi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on 27 March.

On 15 May, Pakistan extended its airspace ban for flights to India till 30 May. It fully opened its airspace for all civilian traffic on 16 July.

In June, Pakistan “specially” opened its airspace for the flight of Prime Minister Modi to Bishkek to attend the SCO summit. However, India decided not to use the Pakistani airspace for the VVIP aircraft.

Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status and bifurcated it into two union territories, evoking strong reaction from Pakistan.

India has categorically told the international community that the scrapping of Article 370 was an internal matter and also advised Pakistan to accept the reality.

(With inputs from PTI and ANI)