India has closed its airspace to Pakistan-owned and operated planes, days after Islamabad decided to shut its airspace to all flights owned and operated by Indian carriers.
The move comes amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 tourists were gunned down by terrorists with links to Pakistan.
India has issued a NOTAM (notice to airmen) under which Pakistani aircrafts are barred from Indian airspace till May 23.
"Indian airspace is not available for aircraft registered in Pakistan, aircraft operated, owned, or leased by Pakistani airlines or operators, including military aircraft," the notice said.
Flights from Pakistan for destinations in southeast Asia and Australia will now have to circumnavigate India, adding to the costs for airlines.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India shrunk its diplomatic presence in its western neighbour, put the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty in "abeyance", expelled Pakistani military diplomatic staff at its High Commission, closed all its borders including the Wagah-Attari corridor in Punjab, and cancelled all visas given to Pakistani nationals.
Islamabad too has taken some measures, like suspending all trade, closing its airspace to Indian airlines, and citing rights to suspend all bilateral pacts, including the 1972 Simla agreement.
The Narendra Modi-led Indian government has vowed to hunt down the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack and upped its diplomatic offensive against Pakistan.
The Shehbaz Sharif government, meanwhile, has denied involvement and said it will respond to Indian actions, ratcheting up tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
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