ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureishi said on Saturday that Pakistan has decided to refuse a request by India to allow its president to use Pakistan’s airspace for his flight to Iceland.
He said that people in occupied Kashmir have been living under curfew since the past 34 days after New Delhi revoked the region’s special autonomy.
“In view of present circumstances, we have decided not to allow the Indian president to use our airspace while travelling to Iceland,” Qureishi concluded.
The decision to deny Indian President Ram Nath Kovind from using Pakistan’s airspace was taken following the approval of Prime Minister Imran Khan in view of India’s continuing atrocities against the people of occupied Kashmir, Qureishi said while talking to state broadcaster Pakistan Television Corporation.
Qureishi also said that Indian human rights abuses in Kashmir was a serious issue, while adding that he would take up this issue with the United Nations Human Rights Council.
He said that people in occupied Kashmir have been living under curfew since the past 34 days after New Delhi revoked the region’s special autonomy.
Further, the minister said that Pakistan has shown “restraint” in the face of escalating human rights abuses committed by the Indian security forces in the valley. “New Delhi is refusing to budge from its stubborn stance and is denying basic facilities to residents in the occupied valley,” he added.
“In view of present circumstances, we have decided not to allow the Indian president to use our airspace while travelling to Iceland,” Qureishi concluded.