Reason, not rhetoric, must drive ONOE
The BJP-led NDA government has made a momentous move by introducing the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill in Parliament this week.
India has once again reportedly requested Pakistan to allow use its airspace for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flight to New York.
However, Pakistan is yet to respond to the request and will take a decision after consultations, the country’s media has reported.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address Indian-Americans at the “Howdy, Modi!” event in Texas’ Houston on September 22.
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Earlier this month, Pakistan had denied President Ram Nath Kovind the permission to use its airspace to travel to Iceland.
Pakistan had refused a request by the Indian Government amid heightened tensions between the two countries over the abrogation of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The decision to deny President Kovind permission was approved by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in view of the Kashmir situation.
Following the revocation of Article 370, Pakistan’s Science and Technology Minister Fawad Khan had earlier said that the country was considering closing its airspace for traffic from India.
However, in August, PM Modi had used the Pakistani airspace to travel to France for a bilateral meet in August, the first after the Balakot airstrikes carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Pakistan had opened its airspace for all civilian traffic on July 16 removing the ban on Indian flights that were not allowed to use a majority of its airspace since the Balakot airstrikes in February.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, Pakistan had closed its airspace partially, after its decision to downgrade diplomatic relations with India. Three out of 11 routes between India and Pakistan were closed.
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