India has closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines from April 30 to May 23, the government announced on Wednesday, April 30.
The move comes just days after Pakistan banned Indian airlines from flying over its territory, following a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 people. mostly tourists.
The escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours have led to a series of retaliatory steps on both sides.
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Pakistan had already shut its airspace to Indian-operated airlines last week, suspended all trade, including via third countries, and halted the special South Asian visas issued to Indian nationals.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday evening, rejected any link between Pakistan and the Kashmir attack, which took place on April 22.
His office said that he called for a transparent, credible, and neutral investigation into the incident, and urged the US to press India to reduce tensions and act responsibly.
While Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the country’s national carrier, said it had decided to avoid Indian airspace due to rising hostilities, the impact on Pakistan’s airline industry is expected to be smaller than on India’s.
PIA mainly uses Indian airspace for its flights to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s government claimed to have “credible intelligence” suggesting that India may be planning military action soon.
India has blamed the attack on three identified terrorists, including two Pakistani nationals.
Islamabad has denied any involvement and reiterated its call for an impartial probe.
Relations between the two countries have sharply deteriorated since the attack, with both sides resorting to diplomatic and economic measures. In a further sign of worsening ties, the long-standing Indus Water Treaty between the two nations has also been suspended by India.
