India on Saturday said it was ready to allow Pakistan to fly helicopters in the "peace time no-fly zone" along the Line of Control to help it in quake relief operations as per Islamabad's request, but on a case-to-case basis.
An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said New Delhi had received a "request from Pakistan on Thursday to fly helicopters in the peace time no-fly zone (one km along the LoC). "We are conveying our agreement to this request provided permission is taken on a case-to-case basis."
It has been made clear, however, that India had received no request from Pakistan to cross the LoC to help them in relief work, denying a Pakistani newspaper report in this regard.
"We have seen a news report mentioning that India is delaying action on a request by Pakistan to cross the LoC so as to have access for relief work. It is clarified that we have received no such request," the spokesman said in response to a question.
A Pakistani daily had claimed Pakistan has sought access through the road connecting Srinagar-Muzafarabad to send aid to remote parts of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir along the LoC.
Pakistan denied it had sought road access from India to provide relief material to remote quake-hit regions along LoC in its side of Kashmir.
In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said details of which Pakistani helicopters flying along the peace time no fly zone will be worked out by the director generals military operations of the two countries.
Aslam told the media that operationally it may be difficult as Pakistan has to inform India of the details everytime it planned a sortie in the no-fly zone.
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