Unicaus NEWS
New Delhi – The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today strongly condemned Pakistan’s “irresponsible behavior” during the recent escalation of border tensions, specifically accusing Islamabad of using civil airliners as shields while launching attacks on India. This dangerous practice put unsuspecting civilian flights, including international carriers, at significant risk.During a briefing that included statements from Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, the MEA spokesperson highlighted Pakistan’s failure to close its civil airspace despite launching a “failed unprovoked drone and missile attack” on May 7th at 8:30 PM. This was contrasted sharply with India’s actions.
“Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defense response,” the spokesperson stated. “This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners including the international flights which were flying near IB between India and Pakistan.
“To illustrate this point, a screenshot reportedly showing data from the application Flightradar24 was presented. This data, according to the MEA, depicted the situation during a high air defense alert in the Punjab sector. It clearly showed that the airspace on the Indian side was “absolutely devoid of civil air traffic due to our declared closure.”In stark contrast, the data revealed civil airlines continuing to fly the air route between Karachi and Lahore within Pakistani airspace. Among other civil aircraft visible, the MEA specifically highlighted an Airbus 320 of flyNAS aviation. This aircraft had originated from Dammam at 17:50 hours and landed later at Lahore at 21:10 hours on the night in question.
The spokesperson, supported by the observations conveyed by Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, emphasized that the Indian Air Force demonstrated considerable restraint in its response to Pakistan’s aggression. This restraint was crucial in ensuring the safety of international civil carriers that were operating in proximity to the border area due to Pakistan’s decision to keep its airspace open.
This accusation points to a serious disregard for international aviation safety norms by Pakistan during a period of heightened military activity. By allowing civilian flights to operate in a zone where it was actively engaging in hostilities and anticipating an Indian response, Pakistan deliberately endangered the lives of passengers and crew.
The MEA reiterated that India, in contrast, prioritized the safety of civilian air traffic by implementing a declared closure of its relevant airspace. This responsible approach stands in sharp contrast to Pakistan’s actions, which the MEA characterized as a deliberate tactic to complicate India’s defensive responses and potentially use civilian aircraft as cover. The international community is urged to take note of this dangerous and irresponsible conduct by Pakistan.
