New Delhi, August 26: In an unexpected development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aircraft reportedly spent 46 minutes in Pakistani airspace while returning from his official visit to Poland. According to reports, sources from the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) confirmed that the plane entered Pakistani airspace at 10:15 AM and exited at 11:01 AM on its way to Delhi. The aircraft passed over Chitral, navigating through the air control zones of Islamabad and Lahore, before crossing into Indian airspace via Amritsar.

This overflight occurred despite the strained relations between the two countries, with Pakistan having completely closed its airspace to Indian flights in February 2019. The same year, Pakistan rejected a request from PM Modi to use its airspace for a trip to Germany. India-Poland Hold Bilateral Talks: PM Narendra Modi Invites Companies From Poland To Join ‘Make in India, Make for World’ Initiative (See Pics).

A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) official explained that the overflight was permitted under the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of international civil aviation, which do not require a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) in such cases. The official further noted that the aircraft's passage through Pakistani airspace was in full compliance with international regulations. PM Narendra Modi Departs From Ukraine After a Historic 7-Hour Long Visit, Says ‘Had Productive Talks With President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’.

PM Modi’s visit to Poland, which took place from August 21-22, was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 45 years, underscoring its diplomatic importance. The use of Pakistani airspace during the return journey, however, has not yet been officially confirmed by Indian authorities.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2024 03:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).