Pakistan, India extend airspace bans on each other amid ongoing tensions
Pakistan and India have extended their mutual
airspace restrictions in a tit-for-tat escalation, as diplomatic strains
between the two nuclear-armed neighbours persist following a brief military
confrontation earlier this month.
The Pakistan Airports Authority announced on
Friday that its airspace remains closed to “all aircraft registered, operated,
owned, or leased by India,” including military aircraft. The ban will stay in
effect until 4:59 a.m. local time on June 24 (2359 GMT on June 23).
In a reciprocal move, India’s Civil Aviation Ministry issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) stating that Pakistani-registered, operated, owned, or leased aircraft — also including military flights — will be prohibited from entering Indian airspace through June 23.
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The airspace dispute flared further after an
IndiGo passenger aircraft flying from New Delhi to Srinagar was denied
diversion rights over Pakistan while attempting to avoid severe weather in
Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. According to India’s Directorate
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), both Indian and Pakistani air authorities
declined the flight’s request to reroute.
While no injuries were reported, the aircraft flew through a hailstorm and sustained nose damage. The DGCA confirmed a post-landing inspection is underway, and the incident is currently under investigation.
Source: The News