NEW DELHI: Indian Air Force is reported to have avoided using air space of Pakistan during the course of its humanitarian operation for Turkey and Syria.
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Amid speculation that Pakistan did not allow Indian Air Force (IAF) planes to fly over its air space while going to Turkey and Syria for relief operations, the Indian Air Force has issued a clarification saying that its aircraft have avoided flying over Pakistan. Official told ANI that as per standard operating procedure, its aircraft have avoided flying over Pakistan.
On Tuesday night, Indian Air Force C130J-Hercules aircraft with medical equipment departed from Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad to Syria. The flight was carrying 6.5 tons of emergency relief assistance consisting of life-saving medicines and emergency medical items.
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Indian Air Force officials said, “Our aircraft don’t fly over Pakistan as this is our standard operating procedure. Our planes take a longer route by flying from the Gujarat side to avoid Pakistani air space while going towards Europe or West Asia.”
It may be recalled that in March last year, the Indian Air Force had avoided the Pakistan airspace to bring back stranded Indian nationals from countries bordering Ukraine as the war entered eighth day. The Indian Air Force till Thursday brought 798 citizens from Hungary, Poland and Romania.
