Both sides had suspended overflight rights for the other nation during heightened tensions following the April Pahalgam terror attack. India and Pakistan on Monday extended till July 24 the closure of their airspaces to planes operated by each other’s airlines, The Indian Express has reported.
A Notice to Airmen declaring an extension of the prohibition was released by both countries’ aviation authorities. A NOTAM is an aviation notification system employed to deliver information regarding alterations to or risks in national airspaces.
India and Pakistan had suspended overflight privileges over one another as tensions heightened following the terror attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
On 24th April, Pakistan prohibited Indian carriers from passing through its airspace, following which India on April 30 shut down its airspace for Pakistani aircraft and airlines. On May 23, both nations further extended the airspace closures until June 24.
Around 800 weekly flights by various Indian airlines have been affected due to the closure of the Pakistani airspace, The Indian Express stated. This is because the flights took longer, burned more fuel and added complexity to crew and scheduling.
The terror attack at Baisaran near the town of Pahalgam on April 22 left 26 persons dead and 16 injured. The terrorists targeted tourists after asking their names to ascertain their religion, the police said. All but three of those killed were Hindu.
India retaliated to the terror attack with military strikes – Operation Sindoor – on alleged terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan Army responded to Indian strikes by continuously shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. A minimum of 22 Indian civilians and eight defence personnel were killed. India and Pakistan on May 10 came to an “understanding” to stop firing after a four-day battle.
