Shields In The Sky? Pakistan Kept 104 Flights Airborne While Targeting India With Drones

Between 8:30 p.m. connected May 7 and midnight connected May 8, astatine slightest 104 commercialized flights flew done Pakistani airspace—even arsenic Pakistan launched a activity of drones and missiles targeting Indian territory. The revelation, based connected formation information analysis, raises chilling questions astir Islamabad’s determination to support its civilian airspace unfastened during progressive hostilities.

At a property convention connected Friday, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh called retired Pakistan’s calculated gamble. “Pakistan did not adjacent its airspace contempt launching a grounded drone and rocket onslaught astatine 8:30 p.m. connected May 7,” she said. “It is utilizing a civilian airliner arsenic a shield, afloat alert that its onslaught connected India would elicit a swift aerial defense response.”

India, by contrast, had already cleared its skies, shutting down civilian aviation adjacent nan International Border (IB) to forestall collateral damage. “This is unsafe for unsuspecting civilian airliners, including world flights flying adjacent nan IB,” Singh added.

Flight logs show nan skies complete Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi remained engaged passim nan 28-hour window. Of nan 104 scheduled flights that operated during this time, 39 were tally by overseas carriers including Emirates, Etihad, Flynas, Qatar Airways, and Gulf Air. Lahore, conscionable 17 km from nan border, continued to run commercialized routes moreover arsenic subject activity intensified.

Islamabad airdrome lies 133 km from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a focal constituent successful nan caller exchanges, while Karachi sits conscionable 173 km from nan India-Pakistan border.

Adding to nan unease, nan Pakistani army, during its ain briefing, appeared to double down. “India was carrying retired attacks contempt Pakistani airspace being open,” its spokesperson said, inadvertently confirming India’s charge—that civilian postulation was near deliberately exposed during subject operations.

Published on: May 9, 2025 9:05 PM IST