Amid growing tensions between Pakistan and India that threaten to unleash a dangerous war in the Asia-Pacific region, Turkey’s state-owned airline Turkish Airlines has announced the suspension of all flights to Islamabad and Lahore, two of Pakistan’s most important cities, citing security reasons, while diplomatic efforts continue to achieve a ceasefire and avoid a “total war“
According to Turkish media reports, Turkish Airlines (THY) has announced the cancellation of all flights to Islamabad, the Pakistani capital, and Lahore, the country’s most populous city, for at least two days, 8 and 9 May, citing security reasons: ‘Due to political instability in Asia, our flights to Islamabad and Lahore on Thursday 8 May and Friday 9 May have been cancelled,’ the airline said in a statement following the missile attack on Pakistan launched early yesterday morning by India, which according to Pakistani authorities caused at least 31 deaths and nearly 50 injured, mainly civilians, including women and children.
Turkish Airlines said that passengers affected by the cancellation of flights to Pakistan, including those who had purchased tickets to Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi, will be able to change their bookings for flights between 7 and 9 May at no extra cost – provided that the changes are made before 21 May – for travel until 31 July without penalties or surcharges. In the event of cancellation, the company will refund the full amount paid or to issue partial refunds for tickets that have been partially used.
The announcement by Turkish Airlines came just hours after India launched a wave of missile strikes and air raids yesterday that hit several targets inside Pakistani territory, including in the area of the disputed region of Kashmir administered by Pakistan, which accused New Delhi of committing an ‘open aggression’ and killing dozens of civilians.
Diplomatic efforts to avoid all-out war in the region
The Pakistani government announced on Thursday that its air defence systems had shot down at least a dozen drones in a new wave of attacks launched overnight by India. According to Islamabad, one of these drones struck a military installation in Lahore, causing significant damage and injuring several soldiers. For its part, India announced the evacuation of thousands of civilians living in villages near the Line of Control that divides the troubled Kashmir region between the two countries.
Meanwhile, international efforts to de-escalate the conflict continue. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New Delhi yesterday after visiting Pakistan on Monday in an attempt to mediate a solution with India. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are among the other countries making diplomatic efforts to prevent a war between Pakistan and India, while the government of China, considered an ally of Islamabad, has called on both sides to ‘exercise maximum restraint’ to prevent a large-scale war.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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