Pakistan to Face Another Major Blow from India?

Tensions have escalated between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack, prompting India to take stringent decisions against its neighboring country. In retaliation, Pakistan imposed restrictions on India, including banning Indian aircraft from entering its airspace. In response to this move, the Indian government is reportedly preparing for countermeasures.

According to several national media reports, India is considering closing its airspace to Pakistan International Airlines. Sources indicate that this proposal is currently under review, and a final decision has not yet been made. An official from the central government reportedly stated that discussions are ongoing, and no conclusive decision has been reached so far. Experts opine that if India proceeds with this decision, it could have a severe impact on Pakistan International Airlines.

For flights to Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and other destinations, Pakistan’s airlines must traverse Indian airspace. If India enforces a ban, Pakistani flights would need to be rerouted via China or Sri Lanka, resulting in longer travel times and significantly increased operational costs. Given that Pakistan’s aviation sector is already grappling with severe financial difficulties, experts believe this situation would further burden the struggling airlines.

It is noteworthy that Pakistan has already been incurring substantial losses after banning Indian aircraft from entering its airspace. Experts state that, contrary to harming India, this decision has inflicted greater financial damage on Pakistan itself. Previously, more than 800 international flights from India traversed Pakistani airspace each week. Pakistan used to collect around 120,000 US dollars daily in overflight fees from these operations. Now, Pakistan is compelled to forgo that income.