The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has reassured the public that all airports across the country are “fully operational” following a brief suspension due to heightened tensions between Pakistan and India. The airspace remains secure for both domestic and international civil aviation activities, ensuring the smooth continuation of flights.
This follows Pakistan’s retaliation to India’s missile strikes on May 7, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of at least 26 civilians in Pakistan. In response, Pakistan’s military shot down five Indian fighter jets, escalating the situation.
The PAA emphasized that Pakistan has formally communicated its concerns regarding the safety of civil aviation to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The PAA expressed deep concern over India’s actions, which it described as “reckless and provocative” and warned of the severe risks posed to civilian flights.
Despite these tensions, the authority confirmed that both domestic and international flights are operating as usual, with airspace management continuing under heightened safety protocols. The PAA’s statement assures travelers that there will be no interruptions in flight operations.
In parallel, Pakistan’s National Security Council (NSC) condemned India’s missile strikes as an “illegal act and blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.” The NSC reiterated Pakistan’s right to defend itself and warned of a response at a time and place of its choosing.
In a statement following the airstrikes, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) could have downed as many as 10 Indian aircraft but chose to show restraint. He also addressed the ongoing situation in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), condemning the Indian media’s unfounded claims against Pakistan in the aftermath of the recent attacks.
Meanwhile, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed the tragic loss of 26 civilian lives and the injuries of 46 others due to the Indian airstrikes, which targeted civilian areas in Pakistan during “Operation Sindoor.”
The situation remains tense, but the airspace is secure for now, with the PAA working to ensure the safe movement of all flights in the region.
