Srinagar, Nov 03: Hours after Pakistan disallowed airspace for Srinagar-Sharjah flights; the former chief ministers of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State Wednesday termed it as unfortunate.

In a tweet, National Conference (NC) Vice president Omar Abdullah said that Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai back in 2010.

“Very unfortunate. Pakistan did the same thing with the Air India Express flight from Srinagar to Dubai in 2009-2010. I had hoped that @ GoFirstairways being permitted to overfly Pak airspace was indicative of a thaw in relations but alas that wasn’t to be,” Omar tweeted.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said that the Government of India didn’t even bother securing permission from Pakistan to use its airspace for international flights from Srinagar.

“Puzzling that GOI didn’t even bother securing permission from Pakistan to use its airspace for international flights from Srinagar. Only a PR extravaganza without any groundwork,” she tweeted.

Notably, Pakistan has refused to allow Go First’s Srinagar-Sharjah flight to fly in its airspace, reports said, adding that the matter has been reported to ministries concerned, including the civil aviation ministry, the external affairs ministry and the home ministry.

During his recent visit to the Valley, Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off the first flight from Srinagar to Sharjah, an international route which was revived after almost 11 years.

According to reports, the first international flight from Srinagar to Dubai commenced in 2009 by Air India Express, but it was eventually discontinued.