Islamabad | Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has clarified that no decision regarding the closure of airspace has been taken yet.
Talking to reporters during a visit to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on Wednesday, he dismissed as “speculative” all reports on the issue.
“A decision to this effect will be taken after due consideration and looking into each and every aspect of the move through consultation,” Shah Mehmood Qureshi said.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan would have the final word”, he said.
The speculation turned wild after the media in Pakistan reported that the airspace in the country was closing after their authorities announced the closure of three routes for Karachi-bound airplanes.
PM is considering a complete closure of Air Space to India, a complete ban on use of Pakistan Land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan was also suggested in cabinet meeting,legal formalities for these decisions are under consideration… #Modi has started we ll finish!
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) August 27, 2019
Pakistan’s Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry had written on Twitter declaring that Pakistan was considering closing its airspace.
Earlier in February, Pakistan had closed its airspace for three months after Indian Air Force struck Jaish-e-Mohammaed hideout in Balakot on February 26.
The decision to close the airspace comes after widespread criticism and questions were being raised by Pakistanis on the government for allowing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use Pakistani airspace on August 22 during a state visit to France, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
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