ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has announced to partially open its airspace, confirmed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Thursday.
“Pakistani Airspace has just been opened for some flights. Air Arabia #G9825 is the first flight to leave Pakistan,” the CAA tweeted.
The CAA had earlier announced that all international and domestic flights operations would remain suspended across the country, after Pakistan closed its airspace for commercial use amid growing tension between Islamabad and New Delhi.
The authority has also advised passengers to stay in touch with their airlines for timely update on any further changes.
Airlines from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, and Thailand have suspended their flights after Pakistan announced to close down its airspace on Wednesday.
According to AFP, thousands of tourists were stranded in Bangkok after Thai Airways canceled all flights over Pakistan. Meanwhile, the AP reported that Pakistan’s temporary closure of its air space has snarled air traffic especially between Asia and Europe.
A day earlier, on Wednesday, Pakistan’s military said it had shot down two Indian Air Force planes in its airspace and captured one Indian pilot.
The incident follows a day after Indian jets had violated the Line of Control (LoC) which divides the disputed Kashmir region.
Tensions have remained high between Pakistan and India since February 14 when a suicide bomber killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary troopers in the Pulwama district of Indian-administered Kashmir.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Pakistan suspended the Samjhauta Express train service between the two nuclear armed neighbors, too.
“The operation of Samjhauta Express has been suspended today, in view of the prevailing tensions between Pakistan and India,” Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said in a statement.
“Samjhauta Express will resume its operations as soon as the security situation improves between India and Pakistan,” the statement read.
