Pakistan explains refusal to allow Bangladesh-bound Russian nuclear fuel aircraft to cross its airspace

Islamabad has formally explained why a plane carrying nuclear fuel (uranium) from Russia did not get permission to use Pakistani airspace. The fuel is for the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Pakistan says politics played no part in the decision. It calls the delay a technical and procedural issue about flight routes and airspace permission.

The Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka gave this explanation in a statement yesterday. The statement says Pakistan reviews all requests for diplomatic flights and airspace use under its existing rules. It also follows its civil aviation protocols and set administrative steps. The High Commission said no request is handled outside this process.

The High Commission also said the issue reported in the media about the Rooppur fuel transport is mainly technical. It concerns fixing the flight route and approving the airspace use. Several agencies, including the civil aviation authorities, must talk to each other to finish this process. Because of this, the schedule of a planned flight can sometimes change.

Pakistan rejected the talk of strained ties between the two countries. It said its bilateral relationship with Bangladesh is very important. Pakistan said people should view this incident only in its technical context. It also asked people not to spread any story that could harm the relations between the two countries.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s Science and Technology Minister Mr. Fakir Mahbub Anam said the plane carrying uranium for the Rooppur plant was due to reach Bangladesh a few days ago. The shipment could not arrive on schedule because Pakistan did not give permission to use its airspace. Officials responsible for the project said such international flights usually cross the airspace of more than one country.

The officials said the flight was put on hold for now because the approval did not come in time. Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom said the uranium supply will restart from next month. Rosatom aims to complete all the shipments within this year.