India resumes flights to Iraq after 30-year gap

NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) – Air India on Thursday resumed flights to Iraq after a 30-year gap, when a plane carrying Shiite pilgrims landed in the city of Najaf. “This is the first time in the last 30 years” that a plane has come from India to Iraq, said Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, India’s ambassador to Iraq, at the international airport that serves the Shiite holy city. “We are very fortunate that the holy city of Najaf has been chosen as the first destination,” he added, noting that attempts to restore direct air links had been ongoing for some time.