India is contemplating drastic measures to tighten the screws on Pakistan, with the government considering a complete closure of its airspace to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and a ban on Pakistani ships docking at Indian ports, according to senior officials cited by ANI and Reuters. The proposed actions, under active discussion in high-level security meetings, come as bilateral relations nosedive following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians and was blamed on Pakistan-based militants.
The potential airspace closure would bar PIA flights from overflying Indian territory, a critical route for Pakistan’s connectivity to Europe, North America, and parts of Asia. Such a move would mirror Pakistan’s earlier decision to ban Indian flights from its airspace, a tit-for-tat escalation that could disrupt global aviation routes. Additionally, a proposed ban on Pakistani ships would block maritime trade, including cargo vessels, from accessing India’s ports, further straining Pakistan’s economy, which relies heavily on sea routes for exports.
Sources in India’s Ministry of External Affairs indicated that these measures are being weighed as part of a broader strategy to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and economically. The Pahalgam attack, attributed to The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, prompted India to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty, close the Attari-Wagah border, expel Pakistani diplomats, and revoke visas for Pakistani nationals. India’s labeling of Pakistan as a “rogue state” at the UN and the withholding of Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s X account in India have further inflamed tensions.
Pakistan’s response has been equally aggressive, with five consecutive nights of ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), met with Indian retaliation. Asif’s claim of an “imminent” Indian military incursion, coupled with Pakistan’s suspension of the Shimla Agreement, has raised fears of a broader conflict. Posts on X reflect growing anxiety, with Indian users supporting punitive measures and Pakistani voices decrying India’s “economic warfare.”
The airspace and maritime bans, if implemented, would mark a significant escalation. Indian officials argue that Pakistan’s alleged support for terrorism justifies such steps, with Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia reportedly briefing Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the feasibility of rerouting Indian flights to avoid disruptions. The Indian Navy, meanwhile, is on high alert, with increased patrols in the Arabian Sea to monitor Pakistani maritime activity, per NDTV reports.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry condemned the reported plans as “reckless,” warning that such actions could “push the region into uncharted territory.” China, a key Pakistani ally, urged both sides to exercise restraint, while the U.S. and Gulf states intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent a spiral into conflict.
As India weighs these high-stakes measures, the international community watches closely. With both nations reinforcing their military positions and nuclear arsenals in the backdrop, the proposed bans could redefine the contours of this volatile rivalry, with far-reaching implications for South Asia and beyond.
