MEA asks Pakistan to let Srinagar-Sharjah flight use its airspace
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Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 5
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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has requested Islamabad to grant overflight clearance for the Srinagar-Sharjah flight in the larger interest of the common people who have booked tickets on this route.
Pakistan had granted overflight clearance to the Srinagar-Sharjah for four days after it was re-introduced on October 23 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
However, Pakistan abruptly announced on October 31 that it had put on hold clearance to the flight for one month. This forced the flight to take a 40-minute detour over Gujarat leading to additional flying time of 40 minutes.
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Sources here said the matter was promptly taken up with Pakistan through diplomatic channels.
A day before withdrawing clearance, Pakistan announced that its NSA will not join his regional counterparts for a meeting on Afghanistan convened by NSA Ajit Doval on November. Pakistan has so far not granted permission for Indian trucks carrying food aid to Afghanistan to transit through its territory.
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