Pakistan to close airspace for Indian flights – Reports

Pakistan is set to close its airspace for Indian flights for a second time in this year, according to local some reports.

The action comes amid increasing tensions between the two neighboring countries.

Pakistan is banning Indian flights in retaliation to India revoking Article 370 earlier this week declaring Jammu and Kashmir as Union Territory with legislature and Ladakh another UT.

Pakistan opened its air space for all types of civil traffic in July. It had been fully closed since February when Pakistan shot down an Indian fighter.

Over 800 flights use the Indian and Pakistani airspace to transport passengers from South Asia, South East Asia to Europe and North America.

Pakistan’s foreign minister wrote to the United Nations on Tuesday, while its army pledged to go to “any extent’’ against India’s move to revoke the autonomous status of Kashmir, that’s claimed in full by the two South Asian nations.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi wrote a letter to the secretary general of the United Nations informing him about the “critical situation” in Kashmir, according to a tweet by Pakistan government on Tuesday. Pakistan’s army in a separate tweet said it “stands by the Kashmiris in their struggle to the very end. We are prepared and shall go to any extent to fulfil our obligations.”

India has accused Pakistan of using militant groups including Jamaat-ud-Dawa led by Hafiz Saeed, the suspected planner of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, of waging a proxy war in Kashmir. Islamabad denies the charges.

A global anti-money laundering agency known as the Financial Action Task Force has placed Pakistan in a grey monitoring list following a push by the US and European allies to get Pakistan to do more to combat militancy.

Also Read, Article 370 to be revoked; J&K, Ladakh to be Union Territories