Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was told that United States (US) has refused to pay Rs72.4 million owed for using country’s airspace by its aircrafts, a private TV channel reported.
According to the source, Lieutenant General (retd) Asif Yaseen Malik told PAC that US has refused payment on grounds military aircrafts belonging to the state are exempted from navigation charges under international laws, adding that Pakistan’s aircrafts were not charged by US on several similar occasions.
However, domestic analysts say Islamabad did not authorize US operations in Pakistan airspace and that exemption from navigation charges is allowed only when missions like joint air exercises are agreed by the two countries.
Earlier in July, PAC had asked defense secretary to raise the issue with the foreign office and invoke bilateral agreement for the recovery of airspace navigation charges.
