rediff.com
rediff.com
News
      HOME | NEWS | REPORT
Tuesday
July 23, 2002
1617 IST

NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
SOUTH ASIA
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES
US ARCHIVES
SEARCH REDIFF








 Click for confirmed
 seats to India!



 Is yr Company
 registered?



 Spaced Out?
 Click Here!



 Secrets every
 mother should
 know


 Search the Internet
         Tips
E-Mail this report to a friend
Print this page Best Printed on HP Laserjets



Pakistan not to open airspace for India

Pakistan has no intention to open its airspace for Indian aircraft in the near future, Defence Secretary Lieutenant General (retd) Hamid Nawaz Khan has said.

"We are not in a hurry and would take a decision after considering all the aspects," Khan reportedly told newsmen at the passing out parade of Airport Security Force at their training school in Karachi on Monday.

"Closure of Indian airspace for Pakistani aircraft was an irrational act," he said describing the India's June decision to reopen its skies Pakistani aircraft as an attempt to 'redress their blunder by putting the ball in our court'.

The defence secretary pointed out that India has not allowed any landing rights to Pakistani aircraft.

"Losses being incurred by India due to the restriction were several times that of Pakistan, so how could we allow them to overfly our airspace," Khan said.

Officials say Indian losses are five times greater than Pakistan. Pakistan International Airlines has estimated its losses at Rs 250 million.

India withdrew airspace facilities for Pakistani carriers on January 2 after the December 13 attack on Parliament and Pakistan reciprocated by banning Indian planes from its skies.

Later in June, Indian government revoked the decision.

Complete coverage of the Indo-Pak standoff

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report

ADVERTISEMENT      
NEWS | MONEY | SPORTS | MOVIES | CHAT | CRICKET | SEARCH
ASTROLOGY | CONTESTS | E-CARDS | NEWSLINKS | ROMANCE | WOMEN
SHOPPING | BOOKS | MUSIC | PERSONAL HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL| MESSENGER | FEEDBACK