Pakistan Gradually Resumes Flights After Overnight Airspace Closure Amid India Tensions

After a tense night that saw Pakistani airspace shut down due to escalating conflict with India, flight operations are now slowly resuming across the country. The move follows Indian missile strikes in Punjab and Azad Kashmir, which triggered a swift military response from Pakistan.

Sources confirmed that Lahore and Karachi airports have begun limited flight operations. According to aviation authorities, several domestic and international flights successfully departed on Wednesday, signaling a cautious return to normalcy.

The first private airline to take off was flight PA-401 from Lahore to Karachi. Karachi airport also saw three departures, including PIA’s PK-607 headed to Dubai and two other flights—one domestic and one international.

However, disruptions persist. Turkish Airlines flight TK-709 to Istanbul experienced delays, and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) temporarily suspended routine operations for 12 hours as a safety precaution.

In a notable development, PIA flight PK-842, which was rerouted to Karachi during the airspace lockdown, has resumed its journey to Lahore—an encouraging sign of de-escalation.

The Pakistani military has claimed it downed five Indian fighter jets and a drone, targeting Indian brigade headquarters in retaliation to Tuesday night’s attacks. Authorities are continuing to evaluate the security landscape, and further changes in flight schedules may occur based on ongoing threat assessments.