Days after India carried out surgical strikes in PoK, Pakistan has put restrictions on commercial airliners using its airspace.
While it had restricted airlines from flying below 33,000 feet in the Karachi airspace on Monday, it has now barred commercial jets from flying below 29,000 feet in Lahore. Karachi airspace restrictions were effective for one week, curbs on Lahore airspace will be in place till October 31.
The move comes amid escalating tension between New Delhi and Islamabad and is aimed at Indian airliners. While Karachi is close to the Rajasthan and Gujarat border, Lahore is close to Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
A notice to airmen (Notam) issued by Pakistan cited "operational reasons" for the move, a report by the Times of India said.
A senior international route planner and commander of an Indian airline said the restricted airspace availability could delay flights to the west/Gulf which fly over Pakistan.
The move must be because of Pakistani Air Force jets doing their manoeuvres and exercises, the daily quoted another commander as saying.
"The nuclear facilities of Pakistan are located to the right of Lahore and we are never allowed to take any detour there. The restrictions over Karachi and now Lahore airspace mean that Pakistan is undertaking air exercises as tensions with India mount," another senior commander was quoted as saying by the TOI.
The government is currently reviewing if Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) jets should be allowed to fly to or over India as no Indian carrier flies to Pakistan.
Indian carriers operating from northern, western and eastern part of India to the west and gulf fly over Pakistan. Some airlines have sought government's permission to fly to the Gulf from western India (mainly Ahmedabad) over the Arabian Sea to avoid the circuitous route over Pakistan.
While the airliners say they have economic reasons for the move, there are also security reasons behind the carriers’ apprehensions from flying over Pakistan airspace.
