India raises Pakistan's airspace denial to Modi with UN

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - India has raised with a special UN agency a rejection by Pakistan to let Indian premier to use its airspace, local media reported said on Monday.

According to Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency, India has sought intervention by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) over Pakistan’s refusal to allow Narendra Modi to fly through its air space, as he leaves for Saudi Arabia on Monday for a bilateral visit.

On Sunday, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced that his country denied Modi permission to fly through its airspace.

"Today is Oct. 27, a Kashmir Black Day, and we rejected the Indian government request in view of their violation of human rights and their atrocities in Indian Occupied Kashmir," Qureshi had said.

The move follows similar denials last month for Modi’s visit to Germany and Indian president’s trip to Iceland.

According to Indian sources, the government had sought overflight clearances that were granted by other countries as per the prescribed ICAO guidelines.

“India will continue to seek such overflight clearances,” PTI quoted sources as saying.