India mulls blocking Pakistani airlines from airspace, states report

The PIA relies on Indian airspace to access several of these markets.

India continues to consider a series of retaliatory measures against Pakistan, the latest being the reported proposal to impose a blanket ban on Pakistani carriers from using Indian airspace. This, if imposed, is likely to impact Pakistan International Airlines' (PIA) flight operations considerably to Southeast Asia.

According to government sources, cited in a Times of India report, the measure, if implemented, would force Pakistani aircraft to take longer routes via China or Sri Lanka to reach destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Bangkok, flaring up cost and elongating travel time.

The PIA relies on Indian airspace to access several of these markets. A similar move in 1971 had compelled Pakistan to reroute flights via Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, India is considering barring Pakistani ships from docking at Indian ports, further tightening economic pressure on Islamabad, it has been learnt from the report.

The latest developments follow Pakistan’s decision to shut its airspace to Indian carriers in response to New Delhi’s diplomatic and military posturing after the Pahalgam attack.

New Delhi has already announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals. The landmark 1960 agreement on water sharing, now on indefinite hold, was among the first casualties of the post-attack crackdown.

Diplomatic tensions have soared since India identified two of the three Pahalgam attackers as Pakistani nationals. While Islamabad has denied any involvement, New Delhi has held the neighbouring country directly responsible.

Addressing the United Nations on Monday, India’s Deputy Permanent Representative Yojna Patel labelled Pakistan a “rogue state” and accused it of fuelling global terrorism and undermining regional peace.

Back home, counter-terror operations across Jammu and Kashmir have been ramped up. Security forces are conducting intensive search operations targeting suspected hideouts of Pakistan-backed terror outfits.