New Delhi: Air traffic operations between India and Pakistan resumed on Tuesday with Islamabad opening its airspace for all civilian flights, nearly four-and-half months after shutting it down following the Balakot air strikes.
Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) stating that the country's airspace has been opened with immediate effect for all types of civil traffic on "published ATS (air traffic service) routes".
Read More:Pakistan reopens airspace four-and-half months after Balakot strikes
Following Pakistan's move, India also issued a "revised NOTAM", announcing that normal air traffic operations have resumed between the two countries.
- On February 14th, Pulwama region in Kashmir had been attacked by a vehicle-borne suicide bomber in which 40 CRPF jawans were martyred
- On February 26th Pakistan closes its airspace for all civilian traffic after India carries out air raids on Pakistani territory following the Pulwama attack
- India had also briefly suspended air traffic at eight airports during the same time, majorly near its Western border
- Pakistan eased some air restrictions in April, but air traffic flying through India was still barred from using major air routes
- Last week, Pakistan's top aviation bureaucrat Shahrukh Nusrat told Parliament that airspace would only be reopened if India withdrew fighter jets placed at bases near the border
- With immediate effect Pakistan airspace is open for all type of civil traffic on published [Air Traffic Service] routes," the Pakistani Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had said late on Monday