The India-Pakistan rapprochement came in handy to bring back Indians from Libya on chartered flights.
According to government sources, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao called up her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir on Friday for overflight clearance for the special flights from Tripoli. Sources said the Pakistan Foreign Secretary got back within minutes with approvals from his government.
Though there are set mechanisms for overflight clearances, the conversation took place at a higher level since these were unscheduled flights, officials said.
Rao and Bashir recently met at Thimphu on the sidelines of a SAARC meeting and have charted out a roadmap to begin talks on all outstanding issues, including counter-terrorism and J&K.
A second batch, of 600 Indians, from Tripoli arrived here late tonight, while another flight is expected early on Tuesday.
While the MEA is coordinating the evacuation of Indians from Libya, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is looking into their onward journey from Delhi airport to their hometowns. I have told officials to treat this as a national emergency, and inter-ministerial coordination with the states has been quite good, A Didar Singh, Secretary in the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry, said on Monday, adding that there hadnt been any turf wars.
He added that those evacuated were being given free tickets to return home. If a persons destination is within 500 km, they are being issued bus or train tickets. If the hometown is 500 km away, they are to be given flight tickets. And these are all complimentary....
Pak clears India request on Libya special flights in minutes
According to government sources, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao called up her Pakistan counterpart Salman Bashir on Friday for overflight clearance for the special flights from Tripoli. Sources said the Pakistan Foreign Secretary got back within minutes with approvals from his government.
Though there are set mechanisms for overflight clearances, the conversation took place at a higher level since these were unscheduled flights, officials said.
Rao and Bashir recently met at Thimphu on the sidelines of a SAARC meeting and have charted out a roadmap to begin talks on all outstanding issues, including counter-terrorism and J&K.
A second batch, of 600 Indians, from Tripoli arrived here late tonight, while another flight is expected early on Tuesday.
While the MEA is coordinating the evacuation of Indians from Libya, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is looking into their onward journey from Delhi airport to their hometowns. I have told officials to treat this as a national emergency, and inter-ministerial coordination with the states has been quite good, A Didar Singh, Secretary in the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry, said on Monday, adding that there hadnt been any turf wars.
He added that those evacuated were being given free tickets to return home. If a persons destination is within 500 km, they are being issued bus or train tickets. If the hometown is 500 km away, they are to be given flight tickets. And these are all complimentary....
Pak clears India request on Libya special flights in minutes
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after so long one good news.....
