India-Pakistan tensions boiled up this week as Islamabad formally shut off its airspace for all Indian-held or Indian-flight-operated airlines. Islamabad has additionally halted all commerce with India in all ways, including those shipping through third parties. The development comes on the heels of an outburst of forceful responses by India following the fatal attack by terror handler kis in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
India’s Tough Stance After Pahalgam Attack
The recent terror strike in Pahalgam that took the lives of more than two dozen people has prompted a chain of retaliatory actions from India. New Delhi accused Pakistan-based terror groups of masterminding the attack and retaliated by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, downgrading diplomatic relations, and shutting the Wagah border. The Indian government’s strong stand seems to have further strained ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Pakistan’s Countermove
During a high-level meeting convened by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s National Security Committee resolved to implement stern countermeasures. These went beyond closing the country’s airspace to Indian airlines and ejecting Indian defense attaches, and suspending all trade, including goods passing through Pakistan to third countries. The agencies declared such measures were imperative to safeguard national interests and react to what they termed “unilateral provocations” from India.
Disruptions to Flight and Trade
Indian airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have validated that Pakistan’s airspace closure has compelled them to divert a number of international flights, resulting in delays and increased operational expenditures. Flights to Europe, the US, and West Asia now take longer, more expensive routes. Cross-border movement of goods has also been impacted, particularly as it has already slowed down because of strained relations over the last couple of years.
Fears Of Escalation
It’s not the first time Pakistan has taken such measures. In 2019, during the Pulwama attack, a similar ban on airspace continued for months. Analysts now worry that the tit-for-tat reactions cause greater instability in the subcontinent. Global observers are calling on both nations to go back to diplomatic talks and de-escalate the situation before it gets any worse.
As both the stance of Russia and the West remain uncompromising on their respective sides, the next few days will decide whether diplomacy or confrontation will dominate the scenario.
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