Pakistan Asks India for Air Passage for Musharraf

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, December 29, 2001

Pakistan Asks India for Air Passage for Musharraf

Pakistan has requested India for air passage to President Pervez Musharraf on his way to Kathmandu for the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit next week, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported Saturday in New Delhi.

"We have sent in our request and India has agreed in principle," the PTI quoted Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Jaleel Abbas Jilani as saying.

As a result of escalating tension between the two neighbors since the December 13 terrorist attack on the Indian parliament, India and Pakistan on Thursday announced that they would ban each other from use of air space from January 1 next year.

However, India said on Friday that it would allow the Pakistan President and his delegation to overfly India to reach Kathmandu for the SAARC summit.

"If any request is made for overflying by Pakistan President and his delegation for the SAARC summit, it will be met," an Indian foreign office spokesperson had said.

Pakistan confirmed on Friday that President Musharraf was going to attend the Nepal meeting, but said they might have to go through a "circuitous" route due to the Indian ban of Pakistani over-flights.