Why in News?

• Federal Aviation Minister of Pakistan denied the use of Pakistani airspace to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind for his flight to Iceland.

Highlights:

• The reason being stated behind the denial is India’s continued aggression in the Kashmir issue and oppression against the Kashmiri people.
• The Pakistani Minister said that India continued to flout international laws and was least bothered about its conduct in Kashmir.
• Pakistan is also considering not to allow any of the Indian airlines to use their airspace.

India’s Response:

• The spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs said that India regret the decision of the Pakistan government to deny over flight clearance for a VVIP special flight, which is otherwise granted routinely by any normal country.
• The spokesperson also called on Pakistan to recognise the futility of such unilateral actions.

Background:

• After the Balakot airstrikes, India and Pakistan had closed their respective airspaces to each other. Pakistan kept the ban in place for nearly five months.
• After the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, Pakistan had partially shut its airspace to India.
• However, Pakistan allowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use its airspace for his visit to France in August 2019 as a goodwill gesture.