Pakistan closes airspace, diverts all flights until further notice

Muscat: Pakistan has decided to close its airspace and will divert all incoming flights until further notice.

The move comes in the wake of reported military strikes by India’s Air Force on Pakistani soil. an official spokesperson of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, said, “Pakistani airspace along with Western Indian airspace is now deserted.”

A statement from Pakistan International Airlines, said, “Attention! As a precautionary measure, Pakistan International Airline may be affected due to closure of Pakistan’s Commercial Air Space.

Earlier today, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the official spokesperson for the Pakistan Armed Forces, had released a statement regarding the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) shooting down two Indian Air Force (IAF) jets, once they were reported to have crossed the Line of Control, the de-facto border between Indian and Pakistan administered Kashmir.

“In response to PAF strikes this morning as released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IAF crossed LOC. PAF shot down two Indian aircrafts inside Pakistani airspace,” he said. “One of the aircraft fell inside AJ&K (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) while other fell inside IOK (Indian Occupied Kashmir). One Indian pilot arrested by troops on ground while two in the area.”

Azad Jammu and Kashmir is a section of Pakistan Administered Kashmir, which also includes the northern regions of Gilgit-Baltistan.

This is a developing story. More to follow