Pakistan shuts airspace until May 11 following security concerns

Pakistan has closed its airspace to all types of flights until 12:00 p.m. on May 11, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced on Friday, May 10, citing heightened military tensions with India along the Line of Control (LoC).

The decision follows the launch of a major military response by the Pakistan Armed Forces—Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos—triggered by what officials described as repeated Indian military incursions and violations of Pakistani airspace, Caliber.Az reports, citing Pakistani media.

The PAA’s announcement came hours after a drone was intercepted in the vicinity of Sukkur Airport in southern Pakistan. Senior Superintendent of Police Azhar Khan confirmed the incident earlier on Friday, which further intensified concerns about aerial threats.

In a precautionary move, authorities evacuated passengers from Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport. Sources told local media that foreign nationals stranded by the abrupt suspension of flight operations were transferred to nearby hotels, while domestic passengers were advised to return home.

Security sources disclosed that as part of Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, Pakistan targeted at least ten sites within India. These included strategic military installations such as the Pathankot, Udhampur, Gujarat, and Rajasthan air bases, as well as BrahMos missile storage facilities in Beas and Nagrota.

The cross-border escalation follows an earlier incident late Friday in which Indian forces reportedly fired air-to-ground missiles at three Pakistani air bases: Nur Khan (Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal), and Shorkot. However, a military spokesperson confirmed that all Pakistan Air Force (PAF) assets at those locations remained unharmed.

“By the grace of Allah Almighty, all PAF assets are safe,” said Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during a televised press conference.

General Chaudhry issued a stark warning to India: “Now just wait for our response,” he said, emphasising that the armed forces were prepared to retaliate forcefully. “We will not get impressed by this, and will fight with full force,” he added.

The military spokesperson also accused India of escalating regional instability, claiming that Indian missiles and drones had been launched not only into Pakistan but also into Afghanistan.

“India, with its arrogance, is pushing the region into destabilisation,” General Chaudhry stated.

By Tamilla Hasanova