Modi's plane once again uses Pakistani airspace without 'permission'

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plane has once again used Pakistani airspace to reach India from the United States, aviation sources confirmed on Wednesday.

The plane entered Pakistani airspace from Afghanistan over Chitral at 5:45pm and remained there for 46 minutes, exiting near Lahore at 6:30pm, according to sources.

The transit occurred as Modi returned to India after completing a 3-day visit to America on September 24. 

During his US trip, Modi participated in the Quad Leaders Summit, led by US President Biden, and addressed the UN Future Summit.

Sources said Indian authorities did not seek permission before using Pakistani airspace. 

This is the second time Modi's plane has used Pakistani airspace in recent months.

Earlier on August 24, Modi used Pakistani airspace while returning to India from Poland.

In 2019, Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's government had turned down India's request to allow Modi's plane to use Pakistani airspace for his flight to Germany.

The then foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the decision was made "keeping in view the situation in occupied Kashmir".

"A request was received from India saying that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to use Pakistani airspace for an overflight on the 20th to Germany and wishes to use the same for a return flight on the 28th," Qureshi informed in the video released on September 28, 2019.

"Keeping in view the situation in 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.