Pak PM Imran Khan crosses airspace of India's Exclusive Economic Zone

New Delhi: Pakistani Prime Minister on Tuesday while arriving at Colombo crossed into the airspace of India's exclusive economic zone. The permission for it was sought from New Delhi from Islamabad a few days ago. India had given permission on Monday.

As protocol, whenever heads of state or governments pass through the air space of any other country, the country is alerted, and due permission taken. It is likely that Pak PM Imran Khan will use the same route to return back from Sri Lanka to Pakistan later today. 

It may be noted that in the aftermath of India removing special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan had denied permission for overflight for President Kovind's plane one time, and PM Modi's plane the second time. 

In September 2019, Pakistan denied the use of its airspace for President Kovind's plane during his Europe visit. In the same month, it denied overflight to PM Modi's plane to attend the UNGA session, followed by no permission to Air India one during PM's Saudi Arabia visit in October 2019. India had taken the matter with the International Civil Aviation Organization.