ISLAMABAD (PEN) : India has suspended operations at 24 airports across the country despite the recent ceasefire agreement with Pakistan, leading to widespread disruption in domestic aviation. A total of 444 scheduled flights were cancelled as heightened security concerns and military alertness continue to impact border regions.
Flight Cancellations Across Key Indian Airports
According to sources within the Indian Civil Aviation sector, airports in several northern cities remain non-operational, including those in Amritsar, Srinagar, Jammu, Ladakh, Dharamshala, Shimla, Adampur, and Chandigarh. These locations have witnessed significant disruptions, with all aircraft grounded and flight operations suspended.
Srinagar Airport, which has been closed for seven consecutive days, saw the cancellation of 65 flights. Similarly, Leh Kaushik Airport in Ladakh and Jammu Airport each saw the suspension of 30 flights. Other airports, including those in Chandigarh, Dharamshala, Jodhpur, and Rajkot, also faced widespread cancellations, further compounding the challenges for travelers in the region.
Background on the Ongoing Tensions
The continued disruption in aviation follows a series of retaliatory strikes by Pakistan after an alleged Indian incursion. Pakistan’s military reportedly launched a Fateh-1 missile strike, targeting India’s S-400 air defense system at the Adampur airbase using a hypersonic missile fired from a JF-17 Thunder aircraft. The strikes caused significant damage to India’s air defense infrastructure, which is valued at around \$1.5 billion.
These developments marked a significant escalation in hostilities between the two countries. In response, diplomatic channels were activated, leading to the announcement of a ceasefire between Islamabad and New Delhi two days ago.
Military and Civil Aviation Concerns
Despite the ceasefire, the ongoing closure of airports in India suggests continued wariness of further escalations. Military installations in northern India remain on high alert, with authorities taking precautionary measures to secure sensitive regions. At present, India’s Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation Authority have not issued an official statement regarding when normal flight operations are expected to resume.
Additionally, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not provided any comment on Pakistan’s claims regarding the destruction of its defense infrastructure.
Regional Tensions Continue
The situation remains fluid, with regional observers noting that despite the formal ceasefire, both nations appear to be maintaining a heightened state of readiness, particularly in sensitive border areas. The ongoing aviation disruptions and military alerts underscore the volatile nature of the conflict, leaving many to question the future trajectory of relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
As the situation evolves, many are watching closely to see whether the ceasefire will hold or if further escalations are on the horizon.
