New Delhi: In a tit-for-tat move, India has shut its airspace for Pakistan registered, operated/leased aircraft, airlines and military flights.
The ban will last till May 23, the Indian government said in a notice on Wednesday.
The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)
This came almost a week after Pakistan banned Indian airlines from flying over its territory, suspended all trade with India, including through third countries, and downgraded diplomatic relations in response to a slew of punitive measures announced by New Delhi over the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people on April 22.
According to reports, Pakistani carriers had been avoiding Indian airspace due to concerns over possible retaliation. With an official restriction now in place, Pakistani airlines will have to reroute flights over China or Sri Lanka to reach Southeast Asian destinations such as Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate phone conversations with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on April 30, urging both nations to de-escalate tensions and work toward regional peace.
The US also expressed grief over the loss of 26 lives in the Pahalgam terror attack and reaffirmed its support for “India on fighting terrorism”.
During his conversation with Sharif, Rubio emphasised the importance of condemning the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and urged Pakistani officials’ to cooperate “in investigating this unconscionable attack”. He further stated that Pakistan should work with India to “de-escalate tensions”.
