Pakistan on Wednesday rejected India’s request to use its airspace for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flight to the US this weekend.

Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi made the announcement in the evening, citing the situation in Jammu and Kashmir as the reason for Islamabad turning down the request.

Earlier this month, Pakistan had similarly refused to grant President Ram Nath Kovind overflight permission for his three-nation tour to Iceland, Switzerland and Slovenia.

Pakistani airspace remains open for commercial flights in and out of India but all countries need to take special permission for the use of other countries’ airspace by special aircraft.

Both the Prime Minister and the President fly on Air India One, which is piloted by Indian Air Force personnel.

According to Qureshi, India had requested use of Pakistani airspace for Modi’s flight to Germany on September 20 and again on the 28th for the return journey.

“Keeping in mind the situation in ‘occupied Kashmir’ and the atrocities being committed there, Pakistan has decided to deny permission. We have conveyed this decision to the Indian high commission,” the Pakistan foreign minister said.

Reacting to Pakistan’s decision, external affairs ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said: “We regret the decision of the government of Pakistan to deny overflight clearance for the VVIP special flight for a second time in two weeks, which is otherwise granted routinely by any normal country.

“Pakistan should reflect upon its decision to deviate from well-established international practice, as well as reconsider its old habit of misrepresenting the reasons for taking unilateral action.”

Since the latest stand-off with Pakistan began following India’s decision on August 5 to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, New Delhi has been accusing Islamabad of taking unilateral action, downgrading diplomatic ties and sending back the Indian high commissioner, calling off bilateral trade and now repeatedly denying Indian VVIP flights airspace use.

Pakistan had granted overflight permission to Air India One ferrying Modi to France in August, days after the ground-shifting changes in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the flak the Imran Khan government received at home for allowing the use of airspace by Air India One has forced a rethink.

After the criticism over Modi being allowed use of its airspace, the Pakistan government had even indicated on August 27 that it would again close its airspace completely for flights coming in and out of India. However, as of now the airspace remains open for commercial flights.