Islamabad/New Delhi – In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Pakistan has cancelled all flights to the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following fears of possible military action from India.
According to multiple reports from Pakistani media, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has suspended all scheduled commercial flights to Gilgit and Skardu. This includes flights from major cities such as Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.
The cancellations come just days after Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines, a move that severely disrupted cross-border air travel. Now, Islamabad has taken a more drastic step by grounding its own domestic flights to the sensitive Gilgit-Baltistan region, further indicating the gravity of the situation.
Flights Cancelled Over Security Concerns
Pakistan’s national carrier PIA confirmed the cancellation of at least eight flights: four to Skardu — including one each from Karachi and Lahore, and two from Islamabad — and four more from Islamabad to Gilgit. Both Gilgit and Skardu are crucial access points to the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan, which has long been a point of contention between India and Pakistan.
Tensions Escalate After Pahalgam Terror Attack
The abrupt cancellation of flights is being viewed in light of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, earlier this week. In a targeted assault, 26 Indian tourists were killed in what Indian intelligence agencies are calling a “well-planned religiously-motivated attack.” Though no group has officially claimed responsibility yet, Indian security officials suspect the involvement of terror outfits operating from across the border in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Read More: Pahalgam Terror Attack: India Responds Strongly as Tensions Escalate with Pakistan
The Indian government has condemned the attack in the strongest terms and warned of a “befitting response.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting with defense and security officials, signaling serious deliberation over potential countermeasures. Several defense analysts suggest that surgical strikes or limited military operations targeting terror camps in PoK may be under active consideration.
India Issues Diplomatic Warning
In New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs summoned Pakistan’s Deputy High Commissioner and lodged a formal protest. India has urged Pakistan to dismantle terrorist infrastructure operating from territories under its control. “We hold Pakistan responsible for this cowardly attack and expect immediate action against those responsible,” an official statement read.
Meanwhile, political reactions in India have been intense. Opposition parties have united in condemning the attack and are demanding decisive action from the central government. Across the country, candlelight vigils and protests have taken place in memory of the victims.
Security Alert Along the LoC
In response to the rising tensions, both India and Pakistan have reportedly increased troop deployments and surveillance along the LoC.
Pakistan, for its part, has heightened its own border patrols and placed its air defense forces on standby. The cancellation of flights to Gilgit-Baltistan, experts say, is a direct reflection of fears that any Indian response could include airstrikes in the region — similar to the Balakot strikes in 2019.
A Volatile Situation
The cancellation of domestic flights in Pakistan, especially to a sensitive area like PoK, is a rare and serious move. It underscores the fragile state of affairs between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. While diplomatic backchannels may still be active, the fear of further violence or retaliation remains high.
With both countries maintaining combative rhetoric and increased military readiness, regional stability hangs in a precarious balance.
