Tensions Rise as Pakistan Temporarily Closes Airspace Amid Drone Threats

Pakistan's Airspace Closure Amid Rising Tensions

On Saturday, Pakistan announced a temporary closure of its airspace, just hours after India accused it of using commercial flights as cover during drone operations. This decision was communicated through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and comes amid heightened tensions between the two neighboring nuclear powers.

The airspace closure follows a night marked by significant drone activity along India's northern and western borders, with Pakistani drones reported at 26 different locations, from Baramulla in the north to Bhuj in the south, as stated by the Defence Ministry.

These drones, suspected to be armed, posed potential risks to both civilian and military installations, according to the Ministry's statement. The identified locations included Baramulla, Srinagar, Avantipora, Nagrota, Jammu, Ferozpur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Lalgarh Jatta, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bhuj, Kuarbet, and Lakhi Nala.

Key airfields, military bases, and civil aviation facilities were among the targets, but India successfully thwarted all attacks.

India has accused Pakistan of jeopardizing international air traffic by maintaining open airspace while conducting drone and missile operations. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Army stated, "Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield, fully aware that its actions would provoke a rapid air defense response, endangering unsuspecting civil airliners, including international flights near the border."

On the night of May 8 and 9, Pakistan reportedly deployed between 300 and 400 drones, preliminarily identified as Turkish-made Asisguard Songar models. Many of these drones were intercepted using a mix of kinetic and electronic warfare systems, including the Barak-8 and S-400 Triumph missile defense systems, Akash surface-to-air missiles, and indigenous anti-drone technologies.

Wing Commander Vyomika Singh remarked, "The scale of the operation indicates a deliberate military effort to assess our readiness. We responded appropriately."

Targeted locations included Srinagar airport, Awantipora airbase, Nagrota, Jammu, Pathankot, Fazilka, and Jaisalmer. In Ferozpur, a drone attack on a civilian area resulted in injuries to three family members, but no military installations were harmed.

In response to the escalating situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level security review meeting late Friday night with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and military chiefs. Earlier that day, he also consulted with former armed forces chiefs regarding the ongoing crisis.

Home Minister Amit Shah assessed civil preparedness in states bordering Pakistan, focusing on airports and high-value targets.