Azerbaijan Airlines gradually resuming flights to Pakistan, India after airspace restrictions

Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has announced the gradual resumption of flights to Pakistan and India following the lifting of airspace restrictions over both countries.

The scheduled flight to Lahore, Pakistan, will be carried out as planned today, May 12, Caliber.Az reports, citing AZAL press service.

Passengers seeking additional information are encouraged to contact the airline via email at callcenter@azal.az.

To note, the airspace restrictions over Pakistan and India were previously imposed due to heightened military tensions between the two countries, which claimed dozens of lives. These measures are often taken as precautionary steps during periods of geopolitical instability or conflict, in order to ensure the safety of civilian air traffic.

The immediate catalyst was a terrorist attack on April 22, 2025, in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, primarily Indian tourists. India attributed the attack to Pakistan-based militant groups, specifically Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, though Pakistan denied any involvement.

In retaliation, India launched "Operation Sindoor" on May 7, 2025, targeting what it described as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. The operation involved missile strikes on six (some sources say nine) locations, including Bahawalpur and Muridke. India claimed the strikes were precise and non-escalatory, focusing solely on militant camps.

By Khagan Isayev