Pakistan’s aviation authority announced on Friday that it will extend its ban on Indian airlines utilizing its airspace for another month, following the recent escalation in violence between the nuclear-armed rivals—the worst in decades.
The ban, initially imposed on April 24 amid a series of diplomatic retaliations that escalated into a four-day military conflict, will now remain in effect until early morning on June 24.
During this period, no flights operated by Indian airlines or operators will be permitted to use Pakistani airspace, and the restriction also applies to Indian military aircraft.India responded to the ban with its own measures in late April, which are set to last until June 23.
The recent hostilities were triggered by a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi attributed to Islamabad’s support. Islamabad has denied involvement and called for an independent investigation. Kashmir, a Muslim-majority region claimed in full by both India and Pakistan, has been a flashpoint leading to multiple wars since their independence from Britain in 1947.
Pakistan’s decision to close its airspace has caused flights from India to destinations in Central Asia, Europe, and North America to be extended by up to two hours, potentially increasing flight costs.
In 2019, when Islamabad previously shut its airspace following Indian airstrikes in Kashmir, domestic airlines incurred an estimated financial loss of nearly 5.5 billion rupees ($64.3 million) over nearly five months.
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