India retaliate Pakistan denying airspace for Srinagar-Sharjah flights

New Delhi – Flights on the route of Srinagar-Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had begun about two months back. However, in the last two days, Pakistan abruptly refused its airspace for the flights from Srinagar to Sharjah. India has raised this issue on the diplomatic level. As per information received, India is planning to increase the number of flights on the Srinagar-Sharjah route, despite Pakistan closing its airspace. Additionally, India is preparing to respond against Pakistan in equal measures.

The international air service between Srinagar and Sharjah was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on 23rd October, during his visit to Jammu-Kashmir. A week before this, India has signed an agreement with the government of Dubai, one of the emirates in the UAE, for developing infrastructure in Jammu-Kashmir. Following this, Pakistan felt that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) members were backing India on the Jammu-Kashmir issue. Pakistani analysts have expressed Pakistan’s inability to oppose UAE, as if they did so, Pakistan would have to face the consequences. Therefore, the commencement of Srinagar-Sharjah flights has made Pakistan very restless. The media questioned the Imran Khan government about Pakistan allowing its airspace for the Srinagar-Sharjah flight and if Pakistan had given up the Kashmir Issue? The Imran Khan government came under tremendous pressure and closed the airspace for the Srinagar- Sharjah flight.

On Tuesday, the Go Air flight was refused permission by Pakistan, forcing the flight to travel via Gujarat and Oman, which increased the flight time by one hour. Pakistan is officially yet to provide any reasons for denying the permission. Analysts in Pakistan feel that if Pakistan denies permission to use its airspace, then the flight service on this route will become expensive and India will be forced to close it.

Despite all this, India is planning to expand its services. Currently, there are four services per week on this route. However, there are plans to make this a daily flight. India could close the use of its airspace for the Lahore-Singapore flight in retaliation. In that scenario, the flight going from Lahore to Singapore will have to take a major detour. The flight will have to go from Lahore via Karachi-Colombo-Singapore. India has raised this issue on the diplomatic level with Pakistan. Official sources said that India has said that Pakistan should consider the interests of the ordinary citizens of Jammu-Kashmir.