Pakistan looking to restart direct flights to US
Pakistan has renewed efforts to
restore direct commercial flights to the United States, with the issue
discussed during high-level talks between Pakistani and American officials in Islamabad.
According to Pakistan’s interior
ministry, Mohsin Naqvi raised the matter during a meeting with Paul Kapoor,
expressing Islamabad’s desire for an early resumption of direct air links
between the two countries.
“We want an early start of direct
flights between Pakistan and the US,” Naqvi said during the meeting, according
to an official statement.
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Direct flights between Pakistan and
the US were suspended after aviation restrictions were imposed on Pakistan
International Airlines in 2020 following the crash of a Airbus A320 operated by
the national carrier in Karachi. The accident killed nearly 100 people and
triggered international scrutiny of Pakistan’s aviation oversight system.
Subsequent investigations attributed
the crash largely to human error involving both pilots and air traffic control.
The incident was followed by revelations that a significant number of Pakistani
pilot licenses were suspected to be fake or improperly issued, prompting
aviation regulators in the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union
to suspend or restrict PIA operations.
Pakistan has since undertaken
reforms aimed at strengthening aviation safety standards and regulatory
oversight. In 2025, a team from the Federal Aviation Administration visited
Pakistan to assess the country’s aviation compliance and safety procedures
through engagements with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
The country achieved a significant
milestone last year when PIA resumed flights to Europe and the UK after a
suspension lasting more than four years. Pakistani officials now view the
restoration of direct US flights as another important step toward rebuilding
international confidence in the country’s aviation sector.
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Officials say renewed direct
connectivity with the US would benefit trade, tourism and the Pakistani
diaspora while enhancing the global standing of Pakistan’s aviation industry.
During the Islamabad meeting, both
sides also reviewed broader bilateral relations, including cooperation in
security, counterterrorism and counter-narcotics efforts.
Regional developments in the Middle
East, particularly the ongoing tensions involving Iran and the United States,
were also discussed. Pakistani officials reiterated optimism that diplomatic
efforts could lead to a lasting resolution of the crisis.
Pakistan has played an increasingly
active diplomatic role in regional mediation efforts in recent months,
including facilitating communication channels between Washington and Tehran as
tensions escalated earlier this year.
Source: Arab News