Flight Operations Suspended at Major Pakistani Airports

The Pakistan Airport Authority (PAA) announced on Thursday that flight operations at several major airports, including Lahore, Sialkot, Karachi, and Islamabad, have been temporarily suspended due to escalating tensions between Pakistan and India.

According to an official statement, airports in Lahore and Sialkot will remain closed until 12 noon today. The authority urged travelers to stay in contact with their respective airlines for updated flight schedules and developments.

The PAA further confirmed that operations at Karachi and Islamabad airports have also been halted until noon, citing “operational reasons” behind the suspension at the capital’s airport. The move comes amid growing security concerns, including threats of potential airspace violations by Indian forces.

The situation intensified after India conducted strikes inside Pakistani territory, prompting international concern and flight disruptions. In response, several major Asian carriers announced flight cancellations and rerouted services to avoid Pakistani airspace.

Flight tracking data showed rerouted flights crowding over Oman, the UAE, and Kuwait, leading to increased congestion in regional air corridors.

At the time of the strikes, Pakistani officials reported that 57 international flights were traversing the country’s airspace.

In a statement issued by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office, the government condemned India’s actions, warning they posed “grave danger to commercial airlines” from Gulf nations and “endangered lives.”