India closes airspace to Pakistan amid Kashmir tensions
India has closed its airspace to Pakistani planes until May 23. This decision is a response to the terrorist attack in the Indian part of Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people.
What do you need to know?
- India has closed airspace to Pakistani planes. This decision applies to both civilian and military flights.
- The closure is expected to remain in effect until May 23.
- This action is a response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, located in the Indian part of Kashmir, which took place on April 22, claiming 26 lives. India has accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack.
Why did India close its airspace?
Indian authorities decided to close the airspace to Pakistani planes following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22.
This decision is expected to remain in effect until May 23 and includes both civilian and military flights.
India accuses Pakistan of terrorism
Pakistan has rejected India's accusations of responsibility for the attack in Kashmir. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the accusations as "baseless" and called for a "neutral investigation."
During a phone conversation on Wednesday evening with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he firmly expressed his opposition to India's efforts to associate Pakistan with the incident, as outlined in a statement released by Sharif's office.
Meanwhile, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to track down the terrorists and their accomplices "to the ends of the earth."
The closure of the airspace is yet another step in the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, who have long been vying for control over Kashmir. This region, predominantly inhabited by Muslims, has been a point of contention since 1989 when an anti-Indian rebellion began. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, and India regularly accuses Pakistan of supporting the rebels.
