Saurabh Sinhal September 29, 2016<\/p>\n
NEW DELHI<\/p>\n
Air links between India and Pakistan \u2014 which include direct flights between the two countries and allowing airlines of one country to fly over the other \u2014 have now come under the scanner of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).<\/p>\n
The Modi government is examining whether these should be allowed to continue post the Uri attack<\/a>, as part of its multi-pronged strategy that involves reviewing the Indus Waters Treaty<\/a> with Pakistan and also reconsidering the most favoured nation status (MFN) given to the country by India in 1996.<\/p>\n While no Indian carrier flies to Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has five flights a week to India \u2014 one on Delhi-Karachi route and two each on Delhi-Lahore and Mumbai-Karachi sectors. Overflying is clearly the more critical part for airlines of both countries. At the moment, almost all flight operated by Indian carriers between Gulf, Europe and North America on the one hand and central, north and east India on the other fly over Pakistan. Similarly, PIA flies over India to Southeast Asia<\/a> and Bangladesh.<\/p>\n “The PMO has sought all details of aviation sector between India and Pakistan. They even asked if the ban on low overflying over Karachi had affected Indian flights. We have given all details as sought by them and a final decision will be taken by the PMO,” said a source.<\/p>\n