Spanish
India extended this Tuesday until next October 24 the closure of its airspace for Pakistani planes, which has been in effect since last May 1, after the airport authority of Pakistan announced the same measure, in a climate of tension between New Delhi and Islamabad after the latest crisis between the two South Asian nuclear powers.
According to the Indian news agency PTI, the two neighboring and rival countries have issued separate notices to aviators (NOTAM, for its acronym in English), official communications addressed to pilots and operators about restrictions, to extend the closure of their respective airspace for another month.
India's Ministry of Aviation indicated this Tuesday through the NOTAM that its veto affects "all aircraft owned or operated by Pakistani airlines and operators, including military aircraft", while Pakistan adopted a reciprocal measure for Indian flights.
The closure of the airspace significantly affects flights from Pakistan to Southeast Asia and Oceania, which for months have been forced to take longer and more circuitous routes, considerably increasing travel time and fuel costs, posing a significant burden on Pakistani airlines, already facing economic difficulties.
This measure reflects the persistent tension between the two powers, which have been at odds since their partition in 1947, and whose latest crisis, which began on April 22nd, has been the most serious this century.
The confrontation lasted until May 10, reaching levels not seen since the 1999 Kargil war, with missile and drone attacks in the disputed region of Kashmir, and concluded with a ceasefire agreed with US mediation.
