As India and Pakistan teeter on the sting of conflict following lethal cross-border strikes, Turkish Airlines (THY) has grounded its flights to Islamabad and Lahore, citing security considerations amid quickly rising tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals.
The nationwide provider, THY, introduced Wednesday that round-trip flights from Istanbul to the Pakistani cities have been canceled in response to India’s in a single day missile blitz, which killed 26 and injured not less than 46 others, in accordance with Pakistani officers.
Passengers affected by the canceled flights – together with these holding tickets to Karachi, Islamabad, and Lahore – have been granted versatile rights.
In a public advisory, THY mentioned all reservations for May 7-9 might be modified freed from cost, supplied passengers act earlier than May 21.
Unused tickets shall be absolutely refunded, and partially used ones will see the rest reimbursed.
Tickets may also be rebooked for journey by way of July 31 with out penalties or fare variations.
Strikes, retaliation, and rising fears
The cancellations got here simply hours after India unleashed a sequence of missile and air strikes deep inside Pakistani territory, together with Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
New Delhi mentioned it focused terrorist hideouts linked to final month’s lethal bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir, which left 26 vacationers useless.
Islamabad, nonetheless, claimed civilians – together with girls and kids – have been among the many casualties and accused India of committing “naked aggression.”
In a fiery speech earlier than Parliament, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif mentioned his nation’s air pressure retaliated swiftly, downing 5 Indian fighter jets – together with not less than three French-made Rafales – in in a single day dogfights. “Up to 80 Indian jets were in the air. Our brave forces chased them off and brought five down,” he mentioned, lauding the swift response by the army.
Sharif’s Security Cabinet condemned the Indian strikes as acts of conflict and granted the army full authorization to reply. “These illegal acts are blatant violations of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” an announcement from Sharif’s workplace mentioned. “Under international law, they constitute acts of war.”
Diplomacy in overdrive
As fighter jets roared over the Line of Control, frantic diplomatic efforts unfolded throughout the globe.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held pressing calls with each Indian and Pakistani nationwide safety advisers.
The United Nations, European Union, Gulf Arab states, and key regional gamers – together with China and Russia – urged restraint and known as for quick de-escalation.
China, an in depth ally of Pakistan, echoed considerations and urged either side to “exercise maximum restraint.” Saudi Arabia dispatched its deputy overseas minister to Islamabad, whereas Qatar’s prime minister phoned Sharif, becoming a member of the diplomatic refrain in search of to avert a wider conflict.
Inside Pakistan, diplomats scrambled between the prime minister’s workplace and the overseas ministry, trying to find a diplomatic exit ramp from what many concern might spiral right into a fourth conflict between the 2 South Asian powers.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence in 1947, two of them over Kashmir – a Himalayan area each declare in full however rule partly.
Source: www.dailysabah.com