ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state-run airline cancelled all flights to Gilgit-Baltistan on Wednesday after airspace over the region was closed by the aviation regulator against the backdrop of a spike in tensions with India.

REUTERS PHOTOProtesters carry effigies of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson Danyal Gilani attributed the cancellations to “airspace restrictions”. He added, “As per directives of CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), the airspace over Northern Areas will remain closed on Wednesday, September 21. Inconvenience regretted.”

Gilani also tweeted that flights to Chitral, Gilgit and Skardu had been cancelled. Chitral is in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province and the other two cities are in Gilgit-Baltistan, which was earlier known as the Northern Areas and was part of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state.

TV news channels and reports on social media speculated that the move was part of Pakistan’s preparations for possible hostilities in the aftermath of a terror attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri. India has blamed the Pakistanbased Jaish-e-Mohammed.

A report on Geo News channel on Wednesday morning suggested Pakistan’s armed forces were going on high alert as there were fears India might attack in response to the Uri strike. “We are told that the armed forces are on high alert and are ready for any eventualities,” the anchor said.

The Express Tribune reported on its website that the airspace over Gilgit-Baltistan was closed because Pakistani warplanes were engaged in take-off and landing rehearsals following tensions.