The world aviation body has told India that it was unable to act against Pakistan for denying Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use its airspace. This was after India approached the International Civil Aviation Organisation or ICAO against Pakistan for its refusal to let the Prime Minister’s plane go through its airspace to Saudi Arabia earlier this week.
The ICAO said that the ‘Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), which ICAO helps governments to cooperate under, only applies to the operations of civilian aircraft and not to state or military aircraft.’ “Flights carrying national leaders are considered state aircraft, and are therefore not subject to ICAO provisions,” news agency PTI quoted an ICAO spokesperson as saying.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who flew to Saudi Arabia for a two-day visit earlier this week was denied to use the Pakistani airspace second time in as many months. In September too, Pakistan had turned down India’s request seeking clearance for the prime minister’s flight for his trip to the US.