Debt-ridden Pakistan considers complete closure of airspace for India

Days after Pakistan closed its airspace for Indian flights in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370 by New Delhi, the neighboring country is considering a complete closure of its airspace to India. Taking to Twitter, Pakistan Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Ahmed Chaudhry took to Twitter on Tuesday and said that Pak PM Imran Khan is considering a complete closure of its airspace to India. Fawad Hussian also claimed that Imran Khan is considering a complete ban on the use of Pakistan land routes for Indian trade to Afghanistan. He added that the legal formalities for the same are under consideration. 

READ | Spooked amid J&K's Article 370 being scrapped, Pakistan partially closes airspace

Pakistan against abrogation of Article 370

Pakistan has not been able to garner international support on its stand against India's move to revoke Article 370 following Jammu and Kashmir was integrated in India. Subsequently, Imran Khan government on August 7 closed the Pakistan airspace for India after bill to revoke Article 370 was introduced in Indian Parliament. The Pakistan airspace was closed till September 5, 2019, earlier. On August 5, India abrogated the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two Union territories - J&K and Ladakh. The move was strongly opposed by Pakistan. Snubbed by India, Pakistan had also expelled the Indian envoy in Islamabad, suspended the bilateral trade, downgraded the diplomatic ties and stopped the cross-border train and bus services. Responding to Pakistan's actions, Indian Railways had also announced that it has canceled the Samjhauta Express train run at its end of the international border.

READ | Pakistan partially closes airspace after India scraps Article 370, Air India says 'it won't affect us'

Kashmir a bilateral issue

During the G7 Summit on Monday, PM Modi made it clear that Kashmir remains a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan while addressing the media in the presence of US President Donald Trump. The statement made by both the world leaders snubbed Imran Khan over his hope for the US President to mediate in the Kashmir issue. However, amid all these developments, Imran Khan addressed the media on Monday and brazenly claimed that it was due to Pakistan that the international community is speaking about Kashmir. 

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