Pakistan's airspace closure along Indian border extended till Jun 15

RAWALPINDI: The closure of Pakistan’s airspace along its eastern border with India has been extended till June 15, as per  a notice issued to airmen (NOTAM) by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Wednesday.

The notice says until 5am on June 15, Pakistani airspace will remain closed.

As per a separate NOTAM issued by the CAA, the Panjgoor airspace would remain open for overflying transit flights from the western side.

Pakistan had granted a special permission to the request of India to let its Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj overflight.

According to media reports, Sushma Swaraj’s flight was permitted to use Pakistani airspace as the Indian minister was scheduled to attend Shanghai Cooperation Organisation session in Bishkek on May 21.

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Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad Faisal said that the Indian government had made the request to avoid longer route.

Nevertheless, the airspace for other commercial airlines remained closed.

Pakistan took the decision to shut its airspace on February 27, sending India a strong message and forcing carriers to reroute flights, after an aerial dogfight between Pakistan and Indian air forces.