PM Narendra Modi took an early return to India on Wednesday morning, aborting his diplomatic tour of Saudi Arabia after a horrific terror attack on Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. His Gulfstream G700 jet arrived at Delhi hours after the attack and without wasting time held a high-level security meeting with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

Though the return itself grabbed headlines, aviation experts and diplomatic observers were quick to observe something peculiar — the PM’s plane went out of its way to avoid flying over Pakistani air space. It took a route over the Arabian Sea instead which is comparitively longer. The detour was not symbolic. It was a deliberate action opting for expedience, avoiding protocol, saving time and national security concerns.

Terror in Pahalgam Forces Quick Decisions

The choice to go back — and how to go back — was influenced by a significant security incident at homeground. On Tuesday afternoon, at about 2:30 PM, heavily armed terrorists ambushed a group of about 40 tourists in the Baisaran valley of South Kashmir. Eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations suggest that the attackers asked for identification from the group before firing at the men, leaving the women and children unharmed.

The severe assault lasted only for short time but claimed the lives of 28 individuals, two of them foreign nationals. Forensic experts found AK-47 cartridge cases and armour-piercing bullets. The Indian Army termed it a “cowardly act of violence,” and security forces have now conducted a wide-ranging combing operation in all of South Kashmir. In such a charged context, seconds mattered — and they influenced the PM’s travel plans.

Why Modi Avoided Pakistan’s Sky ?

Avoiding Pakistani airspace was not just a matter of geopolitics — it was tactical.

In routine diplomatic missions, overflight permissions are requested and granted under air service agreements. However, for VVIP and military flights, such clearance becomes a diplomatic exercise, requiring formal channels and often a delay of several hours to even days. In PM Modi’s case, that luxury of time didn’t exist.

By taking the route over the Arabian Sea, skipping Pakistani airspace, the PM’s team cut through diplomatic protocol and acquired vital hours — an intelligent decision while a top-brass emergency back home was awaiting. Security analysts opined that it was not the first instance of evading optics but a true, practical option based on time, efficiency, and command of the return flight path.

How Much Time is Saved by Avoiding Pakistani Airspace ?

Although it may seem counterintuitive, the Arabian Sea route was actually faster in this case. According to military aviation sources and independent trackers, PM Modi’s flight saved approximately 1.5 to 2 hours by not entering Pakistan’s skies.

This is due to the fact that diplomatic overflight permits from Pakistan, particularly for Indian VVIPs, generally take 24 to 48 hours, even if finally issued. This then entails clearance from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Civil Aviation Authority, and its Air Traffic Control command, each one contributing to bureaucratic drag.

By doing all that, the Prime Minister’s flight remained below India’s jurisdiction or friendly airspace and arrived in Delhi much faster than if it had waited for approvals or taken a traditional route.

History of PM Modi Evading Pakistan’s Airspace

This is not the first instance when India’s leadership has proceeded down this path. In 2019, Pakistan denied PM Modi overflight permission as he was traveling to the United States following the repeal of Article 370. Once again in 2021, the same incident occurred when then Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s appeal to fly to Central Asia through Pakistan was declined.

These constant denials have driven Indian authorities towards adopting alternative corridors, such as longer sea lanes and detours through Iran or Gulf states, to become the go-to route in case of high-profile travel.

Will It Affect VVIP Routes Down the Line?

It can affect VVIP routes if bilateral tensions continue high or asymmetric threats persist.

Indian Air Force and SPG (Special Protection Group) regularly modify VVIP flight routes according to live threat perceptions. This specific incident — of a rerouting in a high-alert scenario — could lead to future security procedures making the Arabian Sea or Iran-Gulf corridors the default routes, particularly for return journeys during diplomatic missions.

This is also contributing to India’s strategic autonomy — guaranteeing the nation’s leadership does not have to rely on unfriendly or unreliable neighbors for transit.

How Long Does Airspace Clearance Take?

Diplomatic clearance for VVIP or military flights is not on autopilot. It involves submitting formal applications through embassies or defense routes, and waiting for approval from several layers in the host country’s aviation and foreign ministries.

For Pakistan, this process may take 6 to 72 hours, subject to diplomatic mood and prevailing geopolitical realities. During a crisis or national emergency, such a latency is not possible or secure.

Hence, bypassing the entire clearance process results in India’s leadership having faster turnaround and obviates the risk of having to wait for possibly unfriendly states to react.

Do Global VVIPs Also Avoid Pakistan Airspace ?

Certainly. India is not the only one adopting this route.

US Presidents Barack Obama (2010) and Donald Trump (2020) bypassed Pakistan airspace when flying to India. US intelligence had alerted potential security risks associated with Pakistani air corridors.

Israeli VIPs — including PM Benjamin Netanyahu — are absolutely barred from the Pakistani airspace as a result of the lack of diplomatic relations between Israel and Pakistan.

Taiwanese policymakers frequently avoided Pakistan and China by traveling south through the Bay of Bengal or over the South China Sea.

Following the Balakot airstrikes in 2019, Pakistan closed its airspace to nearly every country for several months, compelling even European diplomats and commercial airlines to route through Iran or Central Asia.

All of this underscores a broader reality: VIP travel in today’s world is not just about geography — it’s about risk assessment, alliances, and operational control.

Broader Impact on India’s Diplomatic Protocol

PM Modi’s choice of route wasn’t just about getting home fast — it reflects a new standard in India’s crisis diplomacy.

Steering clear of Pakistan’s airspace indicates a wider shift in India’s VVIP procedures. It reflects an evident preference for operational security, reliable clearance, and autonomous mobility, even at the cost of marginally longer travel.

In a more volatile region — from terror attacks to diplomatic showdowns — India’s leadership seems determined to prioritize security and haste over everything else. And with world precedents falling into place, it’s a step less symbolic and more in line with self-reliance strategy.