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BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Sunday stated that India's recent decision to close its airspace to Pakistan-based airlines following the Pahalgam terror attack was a strategic retaliatory measure in response to Pakistan's actions.
Ghosh pointed out that Pakistan's earlier closure of its airspace to Indian flights and bans on Indian goods, such as cosmetics, which remain in high demand at inflated prices in Pakistan, have already caused significant self-inflicted economic strain on the country. "Pakistan had earlier shut its airspace for India, and so many things, including cosmetics from India, have been banned there for a long time, but it reaches there and people buy them at double the price. Pakistan itself was suffering from it already," the BJP leader said. He noted that India's airspace closure is a form of "revenge" against Pakistan and part of a broader stance towards counter-terrorism. "Now India has started taking revenge. The whole world can see who is nurturing terrorists... The world is behind PM Modi and India in this fight," Ghosh said. Air Marshal (Retd) Sanjeev Kapoor had on Thursday said that India's decision to close its airspace to Pakistani airlines is expected to severely disrupt Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operations, increasing flight times and costs. However, he noted that Pakistan's decision to block Indian airlines from using its airspace will have a limited impact on its southern and western flight operations but will significantly affect northern routes, particularly from New Delhi. On Wednesday, India closed its airspace to all aircraft registered in Pakistan and those operated by Pakistani airlines, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA). India issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) confirming the closure of its airspace to all Pakistani-registered, operated, or leased aircraft, including military flights, from April 30 to May 23 (estimated duration). Both India and Pakistan have now blocked each other's airlines from using their airspace, as the neighbouring country had already announced this step six days ago in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people. (ANI)
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