To pressure Afghanistan, Pakistan has been using all instruments which it believes would not draw any global reaction that can challenge its survival and national interests. Islamabad has overtly and imprudently fueled conflict in Afghanistan for four decades through its proxy forces, and has been supporting anti-Afghan government elements even since the time before the Soviet invasion. There is no doubt the war in Afghanistan may have other major factors, but comparatively speaking, Islamabad’s malicious, hostile actions and policies towards Kabul are on the top of the list. Despite its brazen interference and violations of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and independence, Pakistan has not faced with any international pressure that can stop the country from playing a destructive role in Afghanistan.
Moreover, Pakistan never squanders any opportunity to hurt Afghanistan’s economy. From shutting its dry ports connecting India with Afghanistan to imposing a ban on flights coming to and going from Afghanistan through the Pakistani airspace, Pakistan is doing all that can harm Afghanistan. It now about two months that Pakistan has closed its airspace to Kabul-Delhi flights. Pakistan closed its airspace after Indian Airforce bombed targets inside Pakistan in response to the Pulwama terror attack in Indian-administered Kashmir which was claimed by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group. Although Pakistan has reopened its airspace for many flights, but the Kabul-Delhi flights are still using Iranian airspace, creating a lot of problems for both airliners and passengers as it has increased the flying time from Kabul to Delhi from about two hours to six hours, something that has doubled the prices of the flight tickets.
The closure of airspace to civilian flights is on no account justifiable. No doubt Pakistan and Indian are hostile towards each other, but ordinary Afghans should not pay the price for their enmity because the majority of them are going to India for medical treatment. The reason behind the increasing number of Afghans going to India is problems in getting Pakistani visa as well as Pakistan’s malicious state policies towards Afghanistan. If Islamabad wants to stop Afghans from going to India for medical treatment, airspace closure is not the solution. By delivering improved services and providing more facilities to Afghans in visa issuance, Pakistan can easily achieve the goal.
