Pakistan rejects Indian President Ram Nath Kovind's request to use airspace for foreign visit

The decision to deny Indian President Ram Nath Kovind the use of Pakistani airspace was approved by Prime Minister Imran Khan in view of India's continuing oppression of the people in occupied Kashmir, minister Qureshi told state broadcaster PTV, reported Dawn News.

Qureshi said New Delhi's "barbarism" in Kashmir was a serious issue which he would take up with the United Nations Human Rights Council, reported the news channel.

"In view of this, we have decided to not allow the Indian president to use our airspace" for his flight to Iceland, he told PTV.

Relationship between India and Pakistan deteriorated earlier this year since the Pulwama terror strike left India shocked.

Meanwhile, in another embarrassment for Pakistan, UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan said Jammu and Kashmir issue does not concern the Muslim community and is only a dispute between Islamabad and New Delhi, media reports said.

The UAE Foreign Minister, who has paid a visit to Islamabad, has also urged Pakistan and India to resolve the matter through talks.

This sort of reaction can be perceived as a humiliation for Pakistan as its Prime Minister Imran Khan has repeatedly targetted India since New Delhi scrapped Articles 370 and 35A to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

Though India maintained Jammu and Kashmir is its internal matter, Pakistan has repeatedly internationalised the matter and took it to the international spectrum but with futility as several other countries backed New Delhi over its stand.