New Delhi, February 10, 2025: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft flew through Pakistani airspace while en route to France, aviation sources confirmed on Monday.
Modi, traveling in a special aircraft, departed from New Delhi and entered Pakistani airspace near Lahore. The aircraft, cruising at an altitude of 34,000 feet, passed over several regions, including Sheikhupura, Hafizabad, Chakwal, and Kohat, before exiting Pakistani airspace. The transit lasted approximately 41 minutes.
Aviation officials clarified that Modi’s flight was granted special permission to use this route due to the continued closure of Afghan airspace. However, no official goodwill message was conveyed to the Pakistani government or its people.
Pakistan had fully closed its airspace on February 26, 2019, following an airspace violation by Indian fighter jets. In March 2019, the airspace was partially reopened, but restrictions remained in place for Indian flights.
Later in 2019, Pakistan denied Modi’s request to use its airspace for a flight to Germany amid heightened tensions over the Kashmir dispute. However, in 2021, Islamabad granted permission for Modi’s non-stop flight to pass through Pakistani airspace while traveling to the United States.
This latest transit highlights the evolving nature of airspace usage between the two neighboring countries, despite ongoing diplomatic and political tensions.
