Islamabad, July 16: Pakistan on Tuesday resumed its airspace for all kinds of civilian traffic, according to Pakistan civil aviation authority, marking the first time since the February closure following Balakot strike.
The authority issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) that read: “With immediate effect, Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civilian traffic on published ATS routes.”
Islamabad had earlier claimed it would not resume its airspace for commercial flights until Indian air force removed its fighter planes from its own forward airbase, according to ANI news reports.
The country had fully closed its airspace alongside the eastern border with India after the IAF carried out airstrikes on the terror camps of Pakistan-backed and based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar on February 26 in Balakot.
The aerial strikes were in retaliation to a suicide bombing terror attack – Pulwama terror attack – on February 14 in Jammu and Kashmir over Indian paramilitary’s convoy that claimed the lives of 44 CRPF personnel.
In March, Pakistan partially re-opened its airspace but however, did not permit Indian commercial flights to fly over its airspace.
Earlier on May 16, Pakistan extended its airspace ban for international flights to India until May 30 as no progress, in this respect, has been yet made at the bilateral level. International flights from India are also banned from entering Pakistani airspace.
But on May 29, the authorities of Pakistan again decided to extend its airspace ban for the commercial flights until June 15.
However, the airspace was opened to some flights but was yet to be reopened for Afghanistan flights en route to India.
Also read: Indian authority lifts ‘airspace’ ban on flights to Pakistan: IAF