Pakistan reopens airspace for civil aviation

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan announced on Tuesday to reopen its airspace with immediate effect for civil aviation after over four-month long blockage following military tension with neighboring India, local media reported.

Local Urdu TV channel Samaa News quoting an official from Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that Pakistan airspace is open for all types of civil traffic on published Air Traffic Service routes with an immediate effect.

On Feb 26, Pakistan fully closed its airspace following unrest at the country's northeast border with India. Pakistan Air Force claimed to shoot down two Indian fighter jets along the Line of Control over the violation of its airspace.

The shot down of the Indian fighter jets has worsen bilateral relations between Pakistan and India.

Civil flight routes have been affected by the tensions.

Pakistan partially opened its airspace in March but it continued to close its airspace on its eastern and southern side to prohibit flights from Indian side.

Earlier in July, a Pakistani official from the CAA told media that the Indian government had asked Pakistan to open the airspace, but Pakistan asked India to first remove its fighter jets deployed near Pakistani border areas.

Thousands of commercial and cargo flights have been disturbed due to the ban by Pakistan as it is located in an important aviation corridor.