PM Modi not to travel through Pakistan airspace on way to Kyrgyzstan for SCO Summit at Bishkek

A day after Pakistan opened its air-space for PM Narendra Modi's aircraft to travel to Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, sources have told Republic TV that the Prime Minister will not be using the Pakistani airspace for his journey.

Ministry of External Affairs sources have told that the government of India explored two options for the route of PM Modi's VVIP aircraft to Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek. The MEA has decided to take the VVIP aircraft through the route of Oman, Iran and Central Asian countries on the way to Bishkek for the summit. 

PM Modi's aircraft was initially scheduled to fly through the Pakistan airspace for Kyrgyzstan. However, the Government of India has decided to change the route of his journey.

READ | Pakistan Opens Air Space For PM Modi's Plane Ahead Of SCO Summit

Speaking ahead of the SCO Summit, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Monday confirmed that no meeting has been scheduled between PM Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan during the summit which is being held on June 13-14. 

"No meeting is being organised between Prime Minister Modi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. There is nothing more than I can add at this stage," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, PM Modi will be holding bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the SCO summit which will be held in Bishkek. 

Pakistan had fully closed its airspace on February 26 after an Indian Air Force (IAF) strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot. Since then, it has only opened two routes, both of them pass through southern Pakistan, of the total 11. India had requested Pakistan to let Prime Minister Modi's aircraft fly over its airspace to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. On June 1, all temporary restrictions imposed on air routes over India's airspace after the Balakot air strike was also removed, the Air Force said. 

READ | Pakistan Begs For Talks With India; Imran Khan's Minister Writes To EAM S Jaishankar A Day After India Dismisses Meeting At SCO Summit

(With agency inputs)