–Ban will affect all international flights travelling by three routes above port city
LAHORE: A day after it was revealed that the government is considering closing Pakistan’s airspace for India, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has closed three routes of Karachi airspace till August 31.
According to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued on Wednesday, the ban will affect all international flights travelling by three routes above Karachi. The four-day ban will expire on September 1.
It further provides pilots with an alternate route to circumnavigate Karachi airspace.
The CAA’s notification comes a day after Federal Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the government was considering a “complete closure” of airspace for India.
According to informed sources, Prime Minister Imran directed the ministries of law, aviation, defence, and other relevant departments to take all necessary actions to fulfill the international obligations in this regard.
It merits mention here that all governments have to follow regulations for air safety and the airspace can only be closed for any country after making a case and keeping in view all necessary legal and international aviation laws.
The federal cabinet debated this issue thoroughly on Tuesday but could not take a final decision. Later, the prime minister chaired a follow-up meeting and directed the relevant authorities to make necessary arrangements.
The reason for a potential ban that may come into effect by Thursday is that Pakistan “fears a threat from India keeping in view the hostile situation on the Line of Control (LoC)”.
Moreover, the situation in the Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) also doesn’t allow Pakistan to take any risk.
This would be a second time Pakistan would close its airspace to India flights. The airspace restrictions for Indian flights were lifted in July after months of suspension imposed in the wake of a standoff with New Delhi earlier this year.
On July 18, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan had told a press conference that Pakistan suffered losses of more than $50 million because of airspace restrictions put in place amid violent clashes with India. On the other hand, India’s Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently told parliament that Indian air firms — Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and GoAir — lost almost $80m because of the closure of Pakistani airspace.
It may be noted here the Indian prime minister had used the airspace to travel to Paris last week, which had raised many questions.
Earlier in February, Pakistan shot down two Indian fighter jets when India violated Pakistan’s airspace along the Line of Control (LoC) while engaging in a dogfight. Indian pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was also captured by Pakistan, but was later released in a peace gesture to India.
On Aug 5, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi revoked the special status for the disputed region of Kashmir, which prohibited Indian citizens from buying property or competing for government jobs, sparking violent clashes between protesters and security forces.
