In a dramatic escalation of regional tensions, Pakistan has declared a complete closure of its airspace for 48 hours following precision missile strikes by the Indian armed forces.
The unprecedented move comes after India targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and deeper within Pakistan in a coordinated military action dubbed Operation Sindoor.
Until now, Pakistan had only restricted Indian-operated or Indian-owned aircraft from its airspace. However, after the overnight strikes — which were reportedly in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians — Islamabad has announced a blanket airspace ban. This includes domestic flights, with only essential services permitted under the emergency aviation directive.
The announcement was made by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), declaring the nation a “no-fly zone” for all commercial and private aviation traffic for the next two days.
The shutdown has caused immediate logistical strain, with multiple international flights to Islamabad and Lahore being diverted to Karachi in the early hours of Wednesday, severely testing operational capacity at the airport.
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The Indian strikes, carried out between 1:05 am and 1:30 am IST, reportedly targeted known terror infrastructure and were described by military officials as “surgical and precise.”
The Indian government stated the action was a direct response to Pakistan’s continued patronage of cross-border terrorism, particularly pointing to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. The attack was seen as religiously motivated and allegedly fueled by inflammatory rhetoric from Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir.
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In Pakistan, both the civilian leadership and military high command responded with alarm. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened a high-level National Security Council (NSC) meeting to assess the situation and discuss Pakistan’s next steps. Meanwhile, the Pakistan military has indicated that it is reviewing all options, vowing that a response will come “at a time and place of its choosing.”
However, defense analysts and strategic experts caution that any counterattack by Pakistan at this stage would likely be seen internationally as an escalation, not a justified retaliation. India, for its part, has placed its western border on high alert, scaling back civilian air traffic in key frontline areas and issuing a firm warning: any aggression from across the border will be met with “resolute retaliation.”
The geopolitical stakes are now higher than ever, as global powers watch closely to see how Islamabad responds to New Delhi’s bold military maneuver. With both nuclear-armed nations locked in a delicate standoff, the next 48 hours may prove critical in shaping the trajectory of regional peace — or conflict.
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