In a significant escalation of diplomatic and security measures, India is seriously considering closing its airspace to Pakistani airlines, including the state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. This move comes as part of a broader set of retaliatory actions aimed at pressuring Pakistan to cease its alleged support for cross-border terrorism.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has already taken several decisive steps in response to the attack. India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark 1960 agreement governing water sharing between the two countries, until Pakistan provides credible assurances to end terrorism. Additionally, the Attari Border Check Post has been shut down, with those who crossed into India via this route ordered to return by May 1, 2025.
Visa privileges for Pakistani nationals have been drastically curtailed. The SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme (SVES), which previously allowed Pakistani citizens easier access to India, has been revoked, and all existing SVES visas for Pakistanis have been cancelled, with a 48-hour deadline for holders to exit India. Diplomatic relations are also being scaled back. India has declared defence, naval, and air advisors at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi persona non grata, giving them one week to leave. Reciprocal withdrawals of Indian military advisors from the High Commission in Islamabad are underway. Overall staff at both high commissions will be reduced from 55 to 30 by May 1, 2025.
The potential closure of Indian airspace to Pakistani carriers could severely impact PIA’s operations. Currently, PIA relies on Indian airspace to reach key Southeast Asian destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Bangkok. A ban would force longer, costlier detours, further straining an airline already recovering from a European ban on its operations lifted only recently in late 2024.
This move follows Pakistan’s earlier closure of its airspace to Indian airlines, intensifying the tit-for-tat dynamic between the two neighbors. Meanwhile, China has called for restraint amidst the rising tensions. India’s firm stance signals a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and a readiness to leverage economic and diplomatic tools to safeguard national security. As the situation unfolds, the region braces for further diplomatic and operational disruptions between the two countries.