Just days after reopening its airspace after a gap of almostfive months, Pakistan has once again closed three air routes for allinternational traffic in the Karachi region till August 31. Authorities inPakistan have said that the route has been closed due to "operational reasons".
The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by Pakistan's civilaviation authority has mentioned alternate routes that can be used by flightsfunctional in the area.
Sources have told that the development is not in connectionwith the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan.
This comes a day after Pakistan's Science and Technology MinisterChaudhry Fawad Hussain tweeted the Prime Minister Imran Khan-led PTI governmentin the country was considering a "complete closure of air space to India".
The Pakistan Minister further said, "A complete ban on the use of Pakistan land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan was also suggested in a cabinet meeting. Legal formalities for these decisions are under consideration. Modi has started, we'll finish!"
It must be noted that after Pakistan closed its airspace post-Balakot airstrike by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in February, the country suffered major financial losses.
The country warned that the airspace would remain shutunless India withdraws fighter jets from its forward bases. However, the threatwas ignored by New Delhi.
Pakistan's aviation minister had previously admitted hiscountry suffered losses worth $50 million because of the shut airspace over 140days.
While Imran Khan stated in an address to his nation on Monday that Pakistan would go to any extent on the Kashmir issue, he is under tremendous pressure to stabilize the country's economy.
As for shutting land routes through Pakistan for Indo-Afghan trade, New Delhi continues to have a viable option of sending goods through Chabahar Port.
