Pakistan Used Civilian Planes as Cover During Drone Attack: Govt
Pakistan kept its airspace open and allowed civilian aircraft to fly near the International Border (IB) even as it launched drone and missile strikes on Indian military bases in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur on Thursday night, government officials said.
Colonel Sofia Qureshi, presenting evidence during a press briefing on Friday, shared screenshots from FlightRadar24, which showed civil air traffic active between Karachi and Lahore while India had cleared its airspace as a precautionary measure.
“In contrast, our side of the border was completely cleared of civil aviation traffic in anticipation of a possible air defence situation,” Col Qureshi said.
Wing Commander Vyomika Singh added that Pakistan knowingly endangered civilian lives by launching an attack despite the proximity of several international and domestic flights near the IB.
“Pakistan is using civil airliners as a shield, knowing fully well that its attack on India would elicit a swift air defence response. This is not safe for the unsuspecting civil airliners,” she said.
Flight paths during the drone strike period revealed multiple commercial aircraft flying dangerously close to Indian air defence zones. This raised serious concerns among military experts and aviation regulators.
“This action violates global norms and endangers innocent lives,” an official in the Ministry of Defence, requesting anonymity, told Hindustan Times. “It’s a calculated provocation.”
The attack came a day after India’s precision airstrikes under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
While India avoided striking Pakistani military infrastructure to prevent escalation, Pakistan’s response has drawn international attention due to the risks posed to commercial aviation.
Indian officials are expected to raise the issue at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), sources confirmed. The government is also preparing a formal diplomatic protest, citing the misuse of civilian aviation as a wartime tactic.
“India reserves the right to respond to threats in a manner consistent with its national interest and international law,” a senior MEA official said.
