India, Pakistan extend airspace closure for each other's airlines till July 24
India and Pakistan on Monday extended the closure of their airspaces for aircraft operated by each other's airlines till July 24, The Indian Express reported.
A Notice to Airmen announcing the extension of the ban was issued by aviation authorities in both countries. A NOTAM is a notification system used in aviation to communicate information about changes to or hazards in national airspaces.
India and Pakistan had revoked overflight rights for each other amid escalating tensions in the aftermath of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.
On April 24, Pakistan banned Indian carriers from using its airspace, after which India on April 30 closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft and airlines. On May 23, both countries extended the airspace closures till June 24.
About 800 flights per week operated by several Indian airlines have been impacted because of the closure of the Pakistani airspace, The Indian Express reported. This was due to longer duration of flights, increased fuel burn and complexities related to crew and scheduling.
The terror attack at Baisaran near the town of Pahalgam on April 22 left 26 persons dead and 16 injured. The terrorists targeted tourists after asking their names to ascertain their religion, the police said. All but three of those killed were Hindu.
In response to the terror attack, India launched military strikes – codenamed Operation Sindoor – on what New Delhi claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The Pakistan Army retaliated to Indian strikes by repeatedly shelling Indian villages along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 22 Indian civilians and eight defence personnel were killed.
On May 10, India and Pakistan reached an 'understanding' to halt firing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
17 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Govt to decide on subsidy scheme for rare earth magnet production, says Union minister
Two Bhopal students, Abrar Ali and Gul Afsha Khatoon, are stranded in Iran amid ongoing conflict. Abrar, studying for four years, refuses to return, citing loyalty to the country, while his family worries for his safety. Gul's family also seeks assistance from the Indian government for her safe return, expressing concern over the deteriorating situation.
Mint
20 minutes ago
- Mint
In charts: Why West Asia is important for India beyond trade
Tensions in West Asia remain high following the Israel-Iran conflict, putting India's interests in the region at risk. The crisis threatens India's oil imports and overall trade, but its implications go beyond economics. Stability in West Asia matters to India as many Indians study, work, and send money back home from the region. The escalation of the conflict, leading to the temporary airspace closure in four nations—the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait—on Monday, makes the situation tense for India and Indians in the region. The evacuation of over 2,000 Indian nationals from Iran and Israel under 'Operation Sindhu" has reinforced the gravity of India's stake in the stability of the region. Several of these were students. While the share of overseas Indians in Israel (0.30%) and Iran (0.03%) is minuscule, West Asian nations together account for over 25% of the 35 million in total, data from the ministry of external affairs showed. There is no formal definition of West Asia (or Middle East as popular in Western countries), but it broadly covers Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the UAE and Yemen. Also Read: Mint Explainer | Strait of Hormuz: Will Iran shut the vital oil artery of the world? The region has also seen interest among a few Indians looking to pursue education abroad. In 2024, nearly 11,000 students were in West Asian nations for studies, data shared by the education ministry in Lok Sabha showed. Though this constitutes only about 1.3% of 760,000 students studying abroad, the UAE, Iran and Israel are among the top choices. Deep ties Millions of Indians, primarily employed in blue-collar jobs, in West Asian countries, fuel the economic engine in the region as well as in India. The largest number in the region is in the UAE, hosting 3.6 million Indians. This is followed by Saudi Arabia (2.5 million). Smaller yet significant Indian communities exist in Kuwait (1 million) and Qatar (0.8 million), and Oman (0.7 million). In recent years, the region, particularly the UAE, has also become a magnet for high-skilled Indian professionals due to tax-free salaries, zero capital gains tax, and a Golden Visa program that offers residency of up to 10 years to people in select fields. In terms of studies, the UAE is popular as several international universities have campuses and colleges in the country. Iran, the second favourite destination, is generally preferred for medical studies and engineering. Also Read: Israel-Iran conflict: Echoes of history haunt West Asia The conflict between Israel and Iran could destabilise the region upon escalation. This can impact many Indians residing in the region or disrupt plans of those who are planning to go there. The experience with the Russia-Ukraine war offers some context: the number of Indians pursuing studies in Ukraine slumped to 252 in 2024 from around 2,200 in might As one in four overseas Indians resides in West Asian countries, India gains significantly from inward remittances. India's remittances touched $118 billion in 2023-24, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India. These remittances help in financing a part of India's trade deficit and offer a cushion during the period of external shocks. Also Read: High-value, white-collar inflows have led a shift in India's inward remittances While the biggest share came from the US, the West Asian nations together accounted for a 38% share, or $45 billion. The UAE contributed 19.2%, followed by Saudi Arabia (6.7%) and Kuwait (3.9%). The two nations locked in the conflict, Israel and Iran, are not among the major sources of inward remittances for India. However, if the conflict spreads—as witnessed on Monday after Iran targeted the US army bases in Qatar and Iraq—it could lead to disruptions in other West Asian nations where India does have deep human resource and monetary connections.
The Wire
21 minutes ago
- The Wire
Pahalgam Attack: NIA Arrests Two For Harbouring Terrorists, Opposition Questions 'Lapses in Probe'
The NIA said that some media reports about the sketches were 'speculative' and 'misleading in nature' and the agency has not reached any conclusions at this stage. New Delhi: Two months after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Monday (June 23) that the two men who were arrested for harbouring the terrorists behind the attack 'have disclosed details about the identities of the three armed terrorists involved.' Earlier The Indian Express had reported citing sources in the NIA that the sketches of three men released by Jammu and Kashmir police released after the attack were not those behind the attack. The report was then cited by the opposition Congress questioning the Narendra Modi-led central government of major lapses in the probe as well as releasing the sketches hastily. In its statement, the NIA however said that some media reports about the sketches were 'speculative' and 'misleading in nature' and the agency has not reached any conclusions at this stage. "It is seen that some media coverage is speculative and therefore of misleading nature. Such reports circulating in sections of the media and on social media platforms are regarding the sketches and identities of the terrorists involved in the terror attack at Pahalgam," the NIA statement said. The NIA said that "as stated in the official press release dated 22 June 2025, two accused persons have been arrested in connection with the attack. During their interrogation, they have disclosed details about the identities of the three armed terrorists involved." The agency also said that it has gathered a substantial body of evidence regarding the identities of the terrorists including eyewitness accounts, video footage and technical evidence and the sketches released by the Jammu and Kashmir police. "All this evidence is being carefully analysed and NIA has not reached any conclusion at this stage." On Sunday (June 22) the NIA had announced the arrest of Parvaiz Ahmad Jothar from Batkote, Pahalgam and Bashir Ahmad Jothar of Hill Park, Pahalgam. The NIA said that the two have "disclosed the identities of three armed terrorists involved in the attack and have also confirmed that they were Pakistani nationals affiliated to the proscribed terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)." An accused who was arrested by the NIA for allegedly harbouring terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack is being produced before a court, in Jammu on Monday, June 23, 2025. Photo: PTI According to the NIA, the two had harboured the three armed terrorists in a hut in Hill Park before the attack and provided food, shelter, and logistical support to them. 'It's been two months since the Pahalgam attack, and the nation is still demanding answers' On Monday, the Congress questioned the BJP-led central government of a major lapse in the Pahalgam terror attack probe and accused it of having "hastily released sketches of three alleged terrorists." 'In fact, the sketches were reportedly based on a photo recovered from the phone of a terrorist named Junaid, who was killed on 4 December 2024 – months before the attack even occurred. This raises serious questions,' the party said. The party asked five questions including why such negligence in investigating a brutal terrorist attack, if the sketches were fake and part of a 'headline management strategy by the Modi government' and how were the sketches released without proper verification. 'Most importantly – Who were the real attackers? Where are they now? And why haven't they been brought to justice even after two months? It's been two months since the Pahalgam attack, and the nation is still demanding answers,' the Congress said. The Trinamool Congress on Monday also accused the Modi government of providing no answers 62 days after the attack in which 26 civilians were killed. 'Are these lives meaningless to you? The nation will not forget this abandonment,' said the TMC addressing the BJP on X. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
