Draft:2025 Pakistan Airspace Closure

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On 22 April 2025, Pakistani militias shot and killed 26 people in Baisaran Valley in now what is known as the Pahalgam attack.{{Cite news |title=What is The Resistance Front, the group that said it attacked tourists in Indian Kashmir's Pahalgam? |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/india/kashmir-resistance-group-that-claimed-attack-tourists-indian-kashmir-2025-04-23/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250423124810/https://www.reuters.com/world/india/kashmir-resistance-group-that-claimed-attack-tourists-indian-kashmir-2025-04-23/ |archive-date=23 April 2025 |access-date=9 May 2025 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=3 May 2025 |title=India and Pakistan face conflict again - how did they de-escalate in the past? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4wk22vk4zo |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}} In response to this action by the militias Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Tabia, India suspended the Indus water treaty.{{Cite web |date=7 May 2025 |title=India to stop water flowing across international borders, Modi says |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd9l9qwyv23o |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

In response to India's actions, Pakistan closed its Airspace to all Indian Carriers (i. g. Air India, Indigo, etc.) and suspended trade considering their suspension of the water treaty as an "act of war".{{Cite news |last=Laskar |first=Rezaul H |date=24 April 2025|title='Act of war': Pakistan closes airspace to Indian airlines, suspends all trade |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/act-of-war-pakistan-closes-airspace-to-indian-airlines-suspends-all-trade-101745495389616.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424131456/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/act-of-war-pakistan-closes-airspace-to-indian-airlines-suspends-all-trade-101745495389616.html |archive-date=24 April 2025 |access-date=9 May 2025 |work=Hindustan Times |pages=1}}

Pakistan's Airspace closure has caused many people and airlines many inconveniences due to re-routing.

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Many Indian air Carriers like Air India and Indigo have been effected drastically on their International routes. Indigo has had Central Asian routes increase flight time by 3 hours or more.{{Cite web |last=Lomas |first=Chris |date=7 May 2025 |title=Costly diversions and delays continue to hit airlines around Indian and Pakistani airspace |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/aviation-news/costly-diversions-and-delays-continue-to-hit-airlines-around-indian-and-pakistani-airspace/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=Flightradar24 Blog |language=en-US}} Air India has had to divert most North American bound flights to Vienna, Austria or Copenhagen, Denmark to re-fuel their aircraft so that they can continue their flight to North America.{{Cite web |last=Maszczynski |first=Mateusz |date=28 April 2025 |title=Air India Turns Vienna Into a Gas Station Amid Pakistan Airspace Shutdown |url=https://www.paddleyourownkanoo.com/2025/04/28/air-india-turns-vienna-into-a-gas-station-amid-pakistan-airspace-shutdown/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=PYOK |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pitrelli |first=Monica |date=28 April 2025 |title=Indian airlines can't fly over Pakistan. Here's how that is affecting flights |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/28/pakistan-closure-of-air-space-to-indian-airlines-may-not-increase-costs.html |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=CNBC |language=en}}

SpiceJet flights from North India have also added a few hours due to the airspace closure including their Dubai-Delhi route.{{Cite web |last=Bhutia |first=Peden Doma |date=7 May 2025 |title=India-Pakistan: Airports Shut and Over 200 Flights Canceled |url=https://skift.com/2025/05/07/india-pakistan-airports-shut-and-over-200-flights-canceled/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=Skift |language=en-US}}

Indigo flights to Tashkent, Uzbekistan have added 3 more hours to their route as they go around Pakistani airspace into Central Asia. Indigo Airlines has canceled all of its operations to Almaty, Kazakhstan since 25 April.

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On 7 May 2025, Pakistan closed its airspace for all air carriers including its own Pakistani International Airlines. Many international carriers like British Airways and Air France had their flights from and to South Asia and Australia planned to avoid Pakistani airspace.{{Cite web |title=Pakistan Shuts Down Airspace, Plans To Hit Back After India's Precision Strikes |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/pakistan-shuts-down-airspace-plans-to-hit-back-after-indias-precision-strikes-8354174 |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=NDTV |language=en}}

This airspace closure was in response to India's Operation Sindhoor missile strikes, where 9 different missiles hit 9 different locations in Pakistani-occupied Kashmir and Mainland Pakistan. {{Cite news |date=8 May 2025 |title=Pakistan airspace closed for all commercial flights at Lahore, Islamabad airports after India's Operation Sindoor |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-airspace-closed-for-all-commercial-flights-at-lahore-islamabad-airports-operation-sindoor-pahalgam-attack-101746664501417.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250508155316/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-airspace-closed-for-all-commercial-flights-at-lahore-islamabad-airports-operation-sindoor-pahalgam-attack-101746664501417.html |archive-date=8 May 2025 |access-date=9 May 2025 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us}}{{Cite news |date=7 May 2025 |title=Operation Sindoor: Pakistan shuts airspace for 48 hours; several Asian airlines avoid route |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/operation-sindoor-pakistan-shuts-airspace-for-48-hours-several-asian-airlines-avoid-route/articleshow/120961450.cms |access-date=9 May 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

Pakistan did end up re-opening up their airspace to non-Indian Air Carriers on 8 May after the closure on 7 May.{{Cite web |last=Asghar |first=Mohammad |date=8 May 2025 |title=Pakistan reopens airspace; India closes 21 airports |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1909304 |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Asghar |first=Mohammad |title=Pakistan reopens airspace; India closes 21 airports |url=https://asianews.network/pakistan-reopens-airspace-india-closes-21-airports/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=asianews.network |language=en-US}}

On 9 May, Pakistan let civilian aircraft through Pakistan as a distraction to let in 300-400 drones into Northern India according to the Government.{{Cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |last2=Hassan |first2=Aakash |date=9 May 2025 |title=Pakistan accused of launching fresh wave of drone strikes on India |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/09/india-accuses-pakistan-drones-attack-cities-bases |access-date=9 May 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

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