Pakistan has restricted its airspace indefinitely over fears India will launch another attack, forcing international airlines to take costly and time-consuming detours.
“This is a matter of national security. There can be no compromise,” a senior Pakistan government official told the Financial Times. “I realise this is a problem [for airlines] but Pakistan’s security must come first.”
Another senior government official said an air strike by the Indian military in northern Pakistan last month had “definitely” prompted the move to close the airspace. A day after the Indian strike, Pakistan’s air force fired at two Indian fighters.
“We are still concerned that the Indians may go for another adventure as Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi tries to get votes to win the election,” the official said, referring to India’s national poll, to be held over seven weeks from April 11. “Our reading is that the Indians are still thinking of attacking Pakistan in the name of targeting terrorist locations.”
Imran Khan, Pakistan’s prime minister, has also voiced fears of an imminent attack. On Friday he told a gathering near Peshawar that “there is a need for Pakistanis to remain vigilant”.
He added: “We are repeatedly asking India to have bilateral trade and resolve the issue of Kashmir through talks but, unfortunately, a political party in India wants to win the election by spreading hatred.”
The airspace closure is affecting about 800 commercial and cargo flights a day, said Mark Martin, founder of aviation company Martin Consulting, who estimated that the shutdown has already cost airlines and airports more than $1bn.
19/03/19 Financial Times
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“This is a matter of national security. There can be no compromise,” a senior Pakistan government official told the Financial Times. “I realise this is a problem [for airlines] but Pakistan’s security must come first.”
Another senior government official said an air strike by the Indian military in northern Pakistan last month had “definitely” prompted the move to close the airspace. A day after the Indian strike, Pakistan’s air force fired at two Indian fighters.
“We are still concerned that the Indians may go for another adventure as Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi tries to get votes to win the election,” the official said, referring to India’s national poll, to be held over seven weeks from April 11. “Our reading is that the Indians are still thinking of attacking Pakistan in the name of targeting terrorist locations.”
Imran Khan, Pakistan’s prime minister, has also voiced fears of an imminent attack. On Friday he told a gathering near Peshawar that “there is a need for Pakistanis to remain vigilant”.
He added: “We are repeatedly asking India to have bilateral trade and resolve the issue of Kashmir through talks but, unfortunately, a political party in India wants to win the election by spreading hatred.”
The airspace closure is affecting about 800 commercial and cargo flights a day, said Mark Martin, founder of aviation company Martin Consulting, who estimated that the shutdown has already cost airlines and airports more than $1bn.
19/03/19 Financial Times
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