Pakistan once again denied Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi the permission to use its airspace in the backdrop of Black Day (October 27) observed to commemorate Indian forces illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Sunday.

Speaking to media in Islamabad and later in Multan, the foreign minister said he decided to decline India's request seeking permission for the Indian PM to use Pakistan's airspace keeping in view the Indian forces atrocities in the occupied valley and the observance of Black Day on Sunday.

"Today (Sunday), we received a communiqué that Indian PM wants to use Pakistan's airspace and India is seeking Pakistan's permission for this purpose. After consulting the relevant departments and thoroughly reviewing the matter, I decided that Indian high commissioner be summoned and told that we have declined India's request for the grant of airspace to PM Modi," the foreign minister said.

"Seeking the permission to use Pakistan's airspace and that too on October 27 is an Indian move that is tantamount to rubbing salt on the wounds of Kashmiris."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019