Pakistan extends airspace closure for all Indian aircraft to July 24
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended its airspace ban for all Indian-registered and Indian-operated aircraft, including military planes, for another month, until 5:00am local time on July 24, the Pakistan Airports Authority said in a statement on Monday.
The restriction bars Indian commercial airlines, India-registered aircraft, and military flights from entering Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan had first imposed the airspace ban on April 24 in response to India’s unilateral move a day earlier to close its airspace to Pakistani aircraft amid heightened bilateral tensions following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The initial restriction was extended on May 23 for another month.
The latest extension brings the total duration of Pakistan’s airspace closure for Indian aircraft to 60 days.
India closed its airspace to Pakistani flights on April 23, prompting a reciprocal ban from Islamabad the next day. India then took several other measures against Pakistan.
Later, on May 6-7, India launched unprovoked attacks on multiple Pakistani cities.
In response, Pakistan armed forces launched a large-scale retaliatory military action, named “Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos”, and targeted several Indian military targets across multiple regions.
The strikes, described by officials as “precise and proportionate”, were carried out in response to India’s continued aggression across the Line of Control (LoC) and within Pakistan’s territory, which New Delhi claimed were aimed at “terrorist targets”.
Indian airlines have reportedly suffered losses exceeding Rs8 billion in April alone. These include Rs5 billion in additional fuel costs and Rs3 billion in expenses incurred due to forced stopovers by long-haul flights.
