India shuts airspace to Pakistan, Jaishankar warns of justice after Pahalgam terror attack

In the aftermath of the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran valley near Pahalgam that left 26 civilians dead, India has closed its airspace to Pakistani aircraft, a move signaling escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 1, vowed that the perpetrators, planners, and backers of the April 22 massacre “will be brought to justice.”

The call came amid renewed diplomatic outreach by Washington as tensions flare along the volatile Line of Control (LoC).

Jaishankar’s strong words were echoed by Rubio, who in a separate call urged Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to publicly condemn the attack and cooperate in the investigation.

“This unconscionable act of violence must not go unanswered,” Rubio said, reaffirming a joint commitment with Islamabad to hold terrorists accountable.

Airspace closure escalates diplomatic standoff

Late Wednesday evening, the Indian government announced a sweeping closure of its airspace to all Pakistani-registered or operated aircraft — including military planes — effective midnight May 1. The ban, confirmed by senior government sources, is expected to disrupt regional flight paths and further complicate already-frozen diplomatic channels.

Although no direct commercial flights currently operate between India and Pakistan, the ban carries symbolic weight and limits Pakistan’s military and civilian aviation flexibility.

Cross-border violence intensifies

Meanwhile, cross-border hostilities continue unabated. Pakistani forces violated the LoC ceasefire for the seventh consecutive night, opening unprovoked small-arms fire across multiple sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, including Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor. Indian forces responded in kind, said a Defense Ministry spokesperson on May 1.

The repeated violations come despite recent efforts at military de-escalation. Top army officials from both nations — the Directors General of Military Operations — had engaged in a rare hotline conversation on Tuesday to address the situation post-attack.

Washington’s balancing act

Amid mounting fears of a regional flare-up, the US is working behind the scenes to cool tensions. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters Tuesday that the US is “reaching out to both India and Pakistan regarding the Kashmir situation” and urging both parties “not to escalate.”

In his call with Sharif, Rubio pushed for the restoration of direct communication channels and renewed cooperation on counterterrorism efforts. The US message was clear: regional peace and security must take priority over retaliatory measures.