Iran bans airspace for PIA as post-Hajj flights start

Iran bans airspace for PIA as post-Hajj flights start

Pakistan and neighbouring Muslim country, Iran, have enjoyed excellent bilateral ties from many decades. However the recent years especially after the 9/11 United States’ tragedy, they have acetified a bit.

The latest example of this is the restriction imposed by Iran on the use of its airspace by Pakistan International Airline (PIA) for its external Hajj flights. The logic put forward by Tehran is that PIA has failed to clear the over flying charges.

The total figure of the unpaid dues is six million dollars. There is only one hope that the Pakistani Foreign Office would make a serious effort to find out as to what made Iran to go for such an extreme action for such a little money.

It is also significant to know whether Iran had given any reminder or a warning to Pakistan before taking a decision to stop the PIA aircrafts over-flying its soil. Without any doubt, if Tehran sticks to its decision, it would severely affect the PIA’s post
Hajj operation.

The PIA aircrafts would have to take a much longer way that would mean causing the already sinking national transporter greater economic thrashing.

It is quite likely that Tehran may be annoyed with Pakistan for several issues, with the near rejection of the gas pipeline project example of such an annoyance. The project has already laid its part of the pipeline almost up to the Pakistan border areas.
However, unfortunately, our leadership is shying away from the project under American influence.

The other problem that might have hurt Iran is the charge that American CIA is funding Jindollah operatives in Baluchistan who are encouraging anti-revolution forces in Iran.

Whatsoever the issue, it is essential that Pakistani and Iranian rulers should resolve such conflicting problems so that no external force can take edge of their fissure.

At this time, the two will have to restore the excellent equivalence that existed between them in the past, which was based on brotherly ties and the cultural homogeneousness of the two nations.

Iran should be aware of the reality that it under no conditions allows other neighbour, India, to take advantage of the damages in our ties.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=3160

Posted by Faisal Farooq on Nov 10 2011. Filed under Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry