Pak not to open airspace for India
[ TUESDAY, JULY 23, 2002 11:11:07 AM ]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has no intention to open its airspace for Indian aircraft in the near future, Defence Secretary Lt Gen (Retd) Hamid Nawaz Khan has said.

"We are not in a hurry and would take a decision after considering all aspects," Khan told newsmen at the passing-out parade of Airport Security Force at ASF Training School In Karachi on Monday. "Closure of Indian airspace for Pakistani aircraft was an irrational act," he said, describing the India's June decision to reopen its skies to Pakistani aircraft as an attempt to "redress their blunder by putting the ball in our court."

The defence secretary pointed out that India had only allowed overflying to Pakistani planes, but flights to India remain banned. Losses being incurred by India due to the restriction were several times that of Pakistan, "so how could we allow them to overfly our airspace," Khan said.

India withdrew airspace facilities for Pakistani carriers on January 2 after the attack on Parliament and Pakistan immediately reciprocated by banning Indian planes from its skies. Later in June, the Indian government revoked the decision