India on Tuesday rejected claims by Pakistan that it had denied overflight rights to an aircraft carrying Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad who was invited to Islamabad to attend the Pakistan National Day function.
Government officials said that Mahathir had to take a longer route to reach Islamabad as Pakistan has closed its airspace to any aircraft overflying India after the Balakot air strikes.
“Therefore, even though DGCA had given overflight clearance to the Malaysian Prime Minister’s flight, it had to take a longer route because Pakistan denied permission,” they said.
The officials termed reports in a section of Pakistan media as “false and motivated” that India had denied overflight rights to the aircraft ferrying Mahathir to Islamabad.
“It is strange that even for their national day guest from Malaysia, Pakistan could not make an exception, thereby resulting in a longer flight carrying the Malaysian PM,” they said.
Pakistani airspace remains closed to all flights, including international flights, which would usually fly over Pakistan, forcing them to take a longer route. India has not put any such restrictions.
Mahathir's aircraft had to take a longer route via Oman and a detour over the Arabian Sea to reach Islamabad on March 23.
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