Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plane used Pakistani airspace without prior approval for the second time while returning from the U.S., despite earlier refusals due to tensions over Kashmir.
Key details: Modi’s plane recently transited through Pakistani airspace on its return from the United States, as confirmed by aviation sources. The aircraft entered over Chitral at 5:45 PM and exited near Lahore at 6:30 PM, spending 46 minutes in Pakistani airspace. This followed Modi’s three-day visit to the U.S., where he participated in the Quad Leaders Summit hosted by President Biden and addressed the UN Future Summit.
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Additional information: Indian authorities did not request permission for this overflight, marking the second such instance in recent months, with a similar transit occurring on August 24 during Modi’s return from Poland.
Context: In 2019, Pakistan, under former Prime Minister Imran Khan, denied India’s request to use its airspace for Modi’s flight to Germany due to the situation in Kashmir. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi explained that the rejection was a response to India’s actions and human rights violations in the region.