PAKISTAN EXTENDS AIRSPACE BAN ON INDIAN AIRLINES AMID LINGERING TENSIONS
Read Time:1 Minute, 14 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced a one-month extension of its airspace ban on Indian airlines, following the most severe military escalation between the two countries in decades.
The ban, initially imposed on April 24, comes in the wake of a four-day conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours that left more than 70 people dead. The violence involved missile strikes, drone attacks, and heavy artillery exchanges before a ceasefire was reached on May 10.
“No flight operated by Indian airlines or operators will be allowed to use Pakistani airspace,” the CAA said in a statement on Friday. The extended restriction will remain in effect until the early hours of June 24. The ban also applies to Indian military aircraft.
India had reciprocated with its own airspace restrictions in late April, which are currently set to expire on June 23.
The conflict was triggered by a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Pakistan-backed militants. Islamabad has denied the accusation and called for an independent investigation into the incident.
Tensions over Kashmir—a disputed, Muslim-majority region claimed by both countries—have long been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan since their partition and independence in 1947.
The continued closure of airspace is expected to impact commercial aviation routes and deepen the diplomatic rift between the two nations, despite the temporary ceasefire. Diplomatic efforts for a broader de-escalation have yet to yield meaningful progress.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0