India closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines on Wednesday (April 30), following Pakistan's ban on Indian airlines flying over its territory after the killing of 26 people in an attack on tourists in Kashmir. The Indian ban will remain in effect from April 30 to May 23, according to a government notice. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, rejected India's attempts to link Pakistan to the attack. He called for a transparent and impartial investigation and urged the US to pressure India to "reduce the rhetoric and act responsibly."

India's foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment. The ban is expected to have a smaller impact on Pakistan's airline industry than on India's, as only Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) uses Indian airspace for flights to Kuala Lumpur. Last week, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines, halting trade through third countries and suspending special South Asian visas for Indian nationals.

In response to rising tensions, PIA announced on Tuesday that it would avoid Indian airspace. On Wednesday, Pakistan claimed to have "credible intelligence" that India may soon launch military action, escalating the conflict following the tourist attack. India has identified the three attackers, two of whom were Pakistani nationals, as "terrorists" involved in a violent insurgency in Kashmir. Pakistan has denied involvement and called for an independent investigation. In the wake of the attack, both countries have imposed a series of retaliatory measures, including suspending the Indus Water Treaty.