Airspace denial to Modi: ICAO tells India flights carrying national leaders not subject to its provisions

• Pakistan had denied India permission to let Indian PM Narendra Modi use its airspace.
• Pakistan had not allowed due to 'situation in IoK'.

In response to India's complaint regarding Pakistan's denial to use its airspace, International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has said that flights carrying national leaders are considered as 'state aircraft' and are not subject to its provisions.

The ICAO spokesperson said that the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) which the ICAO helps governments to cooperate under, only applies to the operations of civilian aircraft and not to state or military aircraft, Indian media reported.

The organisation has acknowledged India's complaint against Pakistan and has sent a request to Pakistan requesting further information. The Indian government had approached the specialised UN agency on Monday and lodged a complaint against Pakistan for not allowing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use its airspace.

After Pakistan's refusal, Modi took the longer route while flying from Delhi to Riyadh. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had announced that Pakistan denied India's request to let Modi use Pakistan's airspace. “Keeping in view the situation in Indian occupied Kashmir and India's attitude witnessed in the tyranny and oppression [suffered by Kashmiris] and the violations of rights in the region, we have decided not to grant this request," Qureshi said.

Tensions between both the neighboring countries have soared since August 5 when the Indian government revoked the special status granted to Indian-occupied Kashmir. In September, Pakistan had denied another request by the neighbor to use its airspace.