New Delhi: India has rubbished claims made by Pakistan that New Delhi denied permission for Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s overflight to Islamabad over its air space.
“The truth is that Pakistan has blocked its own air space from flights which are overflying India. Therefore, even though DGCA had given overflight clearance to the Malaysian PM’s flight, it had to take a longer route because Pakistan denied permission,” an official said Tuesday, adding that such claims made by a section of the Pakistani media are “false and motivated”.
“It is strange that even for its National Day guest from Malaysia, Pakistan could not make an exception, thereby resulting in a longer flight for the Malaysian PM,” the official said.
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Pakistani air space closure
Pakistan had closed its air space since the Indian Air Force conducted air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, on 26 February.
All flights, including international flights, which would usually fly over Pakistan are not allowed to use its air space. India has not put any such restrictions.
Some media reports in Pakistan had stated that India had withdrawn permission to let the Malaysian PM’s flight enter Pakistan via its air space at the “last minute”, and hence it had to take a longer route to Islamabad, via Oman and a detour over the Arabian Sea.
The Malaysian PM was invited as a guest to attend Pakistan’s National Day parade that was held on 23 March.
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