PM not to fly over Pakistan while travelling to Bishkek

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not fly over Pakistan on his way to Bishkek on Thursday to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the External Affairs Ministry said.

It said Modi's aircraft will fly over Oman, Iran and several Central Asian countries to reach the Kyrgyz capital.

He was responding to media queries regarding the route to be taken by the prime minister while travelling to Bishkek.

On Monday, a Pakistani official said that Islamabad has accorded an "in principle" approval to India's request.

India's decision on the prime minister's travel route to Bishkek appears surprising as it had only requested Pakistan to let Modi's aircraft fly over its airspace when he travels to Bishkek.