NEW DELHI: India said on Saturday that it was willing to permit Pakistani helicopters to fly in the no-fly zone — one km along the Line of Control (LoC) — on a case-by-case basis.

"We received a request from Pakistan on October 13 to fly helicopters in the peace-time no-fly zone (one km along the LoC). We are conveying our agreement today [Saturday] to this request provided permission is taken on a case-by-case basis," the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.

"We have seen a news report that India is delaying action on a request by Pakistan [for soldiers] to cross over the LoC so as to have access for [post-earthquake] relief work. It is clarified that we have received no such request from Pakistan," the statement added.

A Pakistan High Commission official confirmed late in the evening that the External Affairs Ministry had communicated in writing India's acceptance of the Pakistani request for its helicopters to fly close to the LoC.

According to the official, accessing some of the quake-hit areas might require the helicopters to fly close to the LoC and, hence, permission had been sought and obtained from the Indian side. Pakistan, the official added, would provide advance information of helicopter flights to prevent any misunderstanding.

On October 11, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that India had offered to Pakistan relief in earthquake-affected areas in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, which had better access from the Indian side of the LoC.

"It depends on Pakistan's sensitivities. We have to respect [them]. If they agree to this, there will be positive response from our side," the Prime Minister was quoted by the Press Trust of India as saying after visiting quake-hit areas in Tangdhar and Uri.

According to the Prime Minister, the Army Chief and the Director-General of Military Intelligence (DGMI) have made such an offer to Pakistan.

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