Pakistani, Indian airports closed amid tensions
11:37, 27/02/2019, WednesdayU: Update: 11:38, 27/02/2019, Wednesday
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Flight operations from several Pakistani and Indian airports were shut down until indefinite period, media and officials say
Flight operations from several Pakistani and Indian airports were shut down for an indefinite period hours after claims of shooting down of each other’s fighter jets on Wednesday, media and officials said.
Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority said that all international and domestic flights from the country’s major airports -- including Karachi, Peshawar, Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Sialkot airports -- had been suspended for an indefinite period.
The Indian government, for its part, has shut down four airports close to the India-Pakistan borders, local media and officials said.
"Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports were among five airports closed on Wednesday for civilian air traffic shortly after an IAF [Indian Air Force] jet crashed in Kashmir’s Budgam district," the Press Trust of India, a news agency reported.
Those airports which were closed include Srinagar, Jammu, Leh (in Jammu Kashmir) and Amritsar in Indian State of Punjab.
Local media also reported that Chandigarh airport has also been shut.
The officials, however, said that flight operations continued from Chandigarh airport. "The flight operations are on so far, " said Deepesh Joshi, the airport’s public relations officer, told Anadolu Agency.
"While the official did not specify the nature of the emergency, it is believed the step was taken in view of an IAF jet crashing in Budgam district this morning," the PTI report said.
Pakistan army on Wednesday claimed that the country’s air force has shot down two Indian fighter jets that crossed into Pakistani territory.
Meanwhile, Indian Today, a broadcaster, claimed in a report that Indian forces have shot down a Pakistani F-16 that “violated Indian airspace”.
The tension between the two nuclear neighbors has raised after Indian jets intruded into Pakistan's airspace on early Tuesday.
India had claimed that “several terrorists” were killed in preemptive action on the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) camp inside Pakistan.
The Pakistani civil and military officials have rejected the claim.
