Jammu, Leh, Pathankot airspace closed; top airports across north India closed indefinitely

The government has closed several airports close to the Line of Control (LoC) for commercial traffic. According to government sources, flights to Jammu, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Leh, Amritsar, Pathankot, Dehradun and Dharamshala have been suspended till further notice. "The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency," an official of the Airport Authority of India told news agency PTI. Official sources said that the entire airspace north of Delhi has been vacated.

Pakistan has also shut down all its airport. "All Pakistan airports have been shut down. Flight operations have been suspended in Multan, Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot, and Faisalabad,” news agency ANI reported. 

"Due to airspace restrictions, flights to and from Amritsar, Srinagar, Chandigarh, and Jammu are currently on hold," Air Vistara announced in a tweet.

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Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jet was shot down in Indian retaliatory fire 3 KM within Pakistan territory in Lam valley, Nowshera sector, news agency ANI. The latest development comes amid reports of Pakistan violating airspace in the Rajouri district. 

According to news agency PTI, "The jets entered into Indian air space over Nowshera sector this morning." The Pakistani jet was immediately pushed back by Indian planes on air patrol but not before dropping bombs. Nowshera is a border town in Jammu. 

Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had said India committed uncalled for aggression to which Pakistan shall respond at time and place of its choosing. More than 10 bombs were dropped by the Indian multi-role fighter jet Mirage 2000 at around 3:30 am on Tuesday.