A growing number of major international airlines are diverting flights away from Pakistani airspace as tensions between Pakistan and India surge following a brutal attack on tourists in Kashmir, marking the latest geopolitical crisis to disrupt global air travel.
Air France announced it has suspended all flights over Pakistan “until further notice” due to the “recent evolution of tensions between India and Pakistan,” the airline told CNN. The French carrier is adjusting flight schedules and rerouting flights to certain destinations, leading to longer journey times for some routes.
Similarly, Lufthansa, Germany’s national airline, confirmed to Reuters that it is also avoiding Pakistani airspace until further notice.
Flight Tracking Shows Global Impact
According to Reuters, flight tracking data showed airlines such as British Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, and Emirates are now taking longer routes, flying over the Arabian Sea before turning north toward India, to avoid entering Pakistani skies.
The airspace closures come two weeks after militants attacked the tourist town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 26 civilians, many of them tourists. India swiftly blamed Pakistan for harboring the militant groups behind the massacre—a claim Pakistan has denied. The deadly attack has sparked a diplomatic standoff and tit-for-tat measures between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
Both countries had already closed their airspace to each other’s aircraft in the days after the attack. But now, the escalating crisis is forcing international airlines to divert, increasing fuel consumption and flight times. Aviation experts warn that rerouting around Pakistan’s critical air corridor—vital for Europe-Asia routes—could lead to higher operating costs and disruptions in global air cargo.
A Longstanding Flashpoint
The disputed region of Kashmir remains one of the world’s most volatile flashpoints, with India and Pakistan fighting three wars over the territory since gaining independence from Britain nearly 80 years ago. The Line of Control (LoC) continues to divide Kashmir between the two nations.
In the wake of the attack, both countries have been flexing their military might. On Monday, Pakistan’s military carried out its second missile test in three days, launching a Fatah-series surface-to-surface missile with a 120 km (75-mile) range. India, meanwhile, conducted test missile strikes to demonstrate its readiness for long-range precision attacks.
India’s government has also ordered nationwide mock security drills across 244 designated “civil defense districts,” a rare move signaling heightened alertness.
Global Calls for Restraint
Despite military posturing from both sides, international leaders are urging de-escalation. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that “a military solution is no solution,” calling on India and Pakistan to avoid actions that could spiral out of control.
The UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting on Monday to discuss the situation, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry.
Water Dispute Adds to Tensions
Further complicating matters, India has suspended its participation in the Indus Water Treaty, a crucial water-sharing agreement signed in 1960. India has reportedly reduced water flow through dams in Indian-administered Kashmir, prompting concerns in Pakistan over dwindling water supplies.
Speaking to state media, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated:
“Even the water that was India’s right was flowing out of the country… Now, India’s water will flow for its own benefit.”
Pakistani officials accused India of beginning new hydro projects without consultation, violating the treaty.
Economic and Cultural Fallout
The crisis also threatens to derail Pakistan’s fragile economy, which recently secured a $7 billion IMF bailout. A report by Moody’s warns that prolonged tensions could harm Pakistan’s growth and jeopardize efforts at fiscal recovery and foreign investment.
India’s economy, on the other hand, is less exposed to fallout from the tensions, according to Moody’s, given the limited economic ties between the two countries.
Meanwhile, cultural exchanges have ground to a halt. India has blocked social media accounts of Pakistani celebrities, and an anticipated Bollywood film starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan will no longer be released as planned.
Khan, a popular figure in Indian cinema, had been set to return to Bollywood with the film “Abir Gulaal” on May 9, but local media now report the release is indefinitely postponed.
The growing diplomatic, military, and cultural rift underscores the wider ramifications of the Kashmir conflict, with impacts stretching far beyond the region’s mountainous borders.
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