NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday said PM Narendra Modi would not fly over Pakistani airspace on his way to Kyrgyzstan to attend the SCO summit amid criticism, particularly on social media, that there was no need to seek a favour from Pakistan when normal Indian citizens were putting up with long flights.
“The government had explored two options for the route to be taken by the VVIP aircraft. The aircraft will now fly via Oman, Iran and central Asian countries on the way to Bishkek,” the MEA spokesperson said.
The PM’s flying time will be further increased because of an additional diversion necessitated by Cyclone Vayu which is set to hit Gujarat coast on Thursday. In all, he is expected to take two to three hours more than a flight overflying Pakistan to Biskek would have taken.
Jaishankar too will avoid Pak airspace
The decision not to overfly Pakistan was read by some quarters as an indication that the government had bowed to criticism that an exception was being sought for the PM’s flight. Official sources, however, said the speculation in this regard is incorrect. “In the present case, and contrary to media speculation, the final decision on the route was made as per the standard practice and after a considered view of all the options.” A decision on the route was taken keeping in mind a number of considerations, including security and efficiency.
Sources said the VVIP aircraft wouldn’t overfly Pakistan at any stage, countering claims by officials in Islamabad that despite India’s decision, Air India One would fly over their airspace.
Similarly, foreign minister S Jaishankar, expected to be in Dushanbe to attend the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building (CICA) summit on Friday, will not overfly Pakistan and instead take a commercial flight via Dubai to reach Tajikistan.
Now, with Cyclone Vayu moving northward, flights from Delhi may have to go further down south towards Mumbai and then go westward. “This may increase flying time by an additional 15 minutes or so,” said the head of operations of a leading airline. Since the closure of its airspace, Pakistan has opened only two routes, both passing through southern part of the country, out of the total 11 routes.
“The government had explored two options for the route to be taken by the VVIP aircraft. The aircraft will now fly via Oman, Iran and central Asian countries on the way to Bishkek,” the MEA spokesperson said.
The PM’s flying time will be further increased because of an additional diversion necessitated by Cyclone Vayu which is set to hit Gujarat coast on Thursday. In all, he is expected to take two to three hours more than a flight overflying Pakistan to Biskek would have taken.
Jaishankar too will avoid Pak airspace
The decision not to overfly Pakistan was read by some quarters as an indication that the government had bowed to criticism that an exception was being sought for the PM’s flight. Official sources, however, said the speculation in this regard is incorrect. “In the present case, and contrary to media speculation, the final decision on the route was made as per the standard practice and after a considered view of all the options.” A decision on the route was taken keeping in mind a number of considerations, including security and efficiency.
Sources said the VVIP aircraft wouldn’t overfly Pakistan at any stage, countering claims by officials in Islamabad that despite India’s decision, Air India One would fly over their airspace.
Similarly, foreign minister S Jaishankar, expected to be in Dushanbe to attend the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building (CICA) summit on Friday, will not overfly Pakistan and instead take a commercial flight via Dubai to reach Tajikistan.
Now, with Cyclone Vayu moving northward, flights from Delhi may have to go further down south towards Mumbai and then go westward. “This may increase flying time by an additional 15 minutes or so,” said the head of operations of a leading airline. Since the closure of its airspace, Pakistan has opened only two routes, both passing through southern part of the country, out of the total 11 routes.
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