Air strike on Balakot still haunts Pakistan; extends airspace ban to June 28

Islamabad, June 17: Is Pakistan still petrified with the aerial attack by Indian Air Force? In a latest move with regards to the airspace activity, Pakistan is in no mood to take off the ban imposed on it. Interestingly, the neighbouring country extended closure of its airspace along the eastern border with India till 28 June. This is third time Islamabad has extended the partial airspace ban.

 

In a notice issued to airmen (NOTAM) on Thursday (13 June) by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), it has been stated that, “Pakistani airspace will be closed until June 28 along its eastern border with India. The Panjgoor airspace will remain open for overflying transit flights from the western side as Air India had already been using that airspace.”

Pakistan closed its airspace in February after a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based militant group in Kashmir led to aerial bombing missions on each other's soil and a fighter dogfight over Kashmir. Foreign carriers using Indian airspace have been forced to take costly detours because they cannot fly over Pakistan. The closure mainly affects flights from Europe to Southeast Asia.

While the IAF lifted all the temporary restrictions over Indian airspace on 31 May, Pakistan has opened only two of its 11 air routes, both of them passing through southern Pakistan.

On 15 May, Islamabad had first extended the airspace ban along eastern border of India till 30 May. Then on 30 May, it prolonged the ban till 15 June. Now it has further extended the ban till 28 June.