LONDON – The Indian government has denied a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) request for landing at Jaipur International Airport aimed at facilitating Hindu pilgrims traveling between Karachi and Jaipur.

According to sources privy to the matter, PIA has sought permission from the Indian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to allow a special flight from Karachi to Jaipur carrying Hindu pilgrims on January 29.

The special flight was arranged at the request of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) for visiting religious sites.

According to the sources, the flight had to carry 160 pilgrims from Karachi to Lahore on Saturday morning and then to Jaipur.

“The flight had to land at Jaipur airport at 12:00 noon on Saturday,” PHC said.

However PIA was not given permission to plan the flight. The PIA officials have indeed confirmed that the Indian government has refused the request to land at Jaipur airport.

“Last month, the Indian government also denied permission to a PIA flight to land at New Delhi airport,” they said.