India on Wednesday shut down its airspace for flights run by Pakistani airlines as part of a fresh reply step amid growing tension with the neighboring country after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Indian aircraft will not be available for aircraft registered in Pakistan as well as a planes operated by Pakistani airlines and operators. A senior government official said that the ban would also apply to Pakistan’s military aircraft.
In this regard, notice to Airmen (NOTIM) was issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Wednesday evening and it will remain in force till May 23. The ban came into effect from 12 noon on Thursday night.
NOTAM is generally a notice that contains the necessary information for people associated with flight operations.
This is part of various measures taken by the government against Pakistan in view of the latest step, Pahalgam terrorist attack, in which 26 people were killed. This step has been taken a week after Pakistan shut down its airspace for Indian aviation companies.
There is no direct flight between India and Pakistan. Pakistani airlines use Indian airspace for their flights to Singapore, Malaysia and other East Asian countries.
A senior Air Traffic Controller (ATC) said that many flights of Pakistani airlines do not use Indian airspace.
A day after the Pahalgam attack, on 23 April, India announced several punitive measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty, closing the only current land border crossing in the attic and reducing diplomatic relations in view of the cross -border relations of the massacre.
In response, Pakistan shut down its airspace for Indian aircraft and suspended all trade with India through third countries. Pakistan rejected India’s decision to suspend the Indus Water Treaty and said that any step to stop the flow of water would be seen as a “war action”.
