India takes up Pak's denial of airspace

New Delhi: India has taken up Pakistan's denial of use of its airspace to the prime minister's flight with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, government sources said on Monday ahead of Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia on a bilateral visit.

India sought overflight clearance from Pakistan for the prime minister's aircraft to go to Saudi Arabia on Monday. Still, Islamabad cited alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir to deny the request.

Sources said the government of India is of the view Pakistan should reflect on its decision to deviate from well established international practice, as well as reconsider its old habit of misrepresenting the reasons for taking unilateral action.

The sources added that India regrets Pakistan's decision to deny yet again overflight clearance for the VVIP special flight, granted routinely by any normal country.

In September, Pakistan denied overflight clearance to the prime minister's aircraft during his visit to the US.