Earlier, Pakistan had announced the closure of specific portions of Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions for a limited time each day during May, citing security concerns.
Panic has gripped Pakistan after Indian armed forces carried out missile strikes early Wednesday on nine terror targets in the neighbouring country and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Soon after the attack, Pakistan has reportedly announced the closure of Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi airports till 6 PM on Saturday.
Earlier, Pakistan had announced the closure of specific portions of Karachi and Lahore Flight Information Regions for a limited time each day during May, citing security concerns.
The announcement by the aviation authorities came amid heightened tension between Pakistan and Islamabad post the Pahalgam terror attack and Islamabad’s apprehension of retaliatory action by New Delhi.
“The restricted airspace will be closed daily from 4:00 am to 8:00 am local time between May 1 and May 31,” Express Tribune said, quoting an official notice.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the closure will not significantly disrupt commercial flight operations, as aircraft will be rerouted via alternative flight paths during the restricted hours, it said.
Operation Sindoor
India has carried out military strikes under ‘Operation Sindoor’ two weeks after the massacre of 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
“A little while ago, the Indian armed forces launched ‘Operation Sindoor’, hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir from where terrorist attacks against India have been planned and directed,” the defence ministry said in a statement at 1.44 am.
It said the actions by the Indian armed forces have been “focused, measured and non-escalatory” in nature and that no Pakistani military facilities have been targeted.
Sources said the strikes on all nine targets, including Bahawalpur and Muridke, were successful, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was monitoring ‘Operation Sindoor’ closely.
Muridke, located a short distance from Lahore, is home to a sprawling “markaz” or base of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Bahawalpur is the main stronghold of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).
With PTI inputs
