India confirmed it launched an attack on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir as Pakistan hits Indian planes and drones.
Qatar has voiced “deep concerns” over the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, urging both nations to “exercise maximum restraint” and resolve the crisis through diplomatic means. The Gulf state emphasised the importance of adhering to the principles of good neighbourliness and acting in the spirit of wisdom.
The comments follow India’s Operation Sindoor, which targeted what it described as nine “terrorist infrastructure” sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the early hours of Wednesday. In response, Pakistan claimed to have downed five Indian Air Force jets and a drone.
In a statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasised the urgent need “to keep communication channels open between India and Pakistan to defuse tensions and address outstanding issues through constructive dialogue, ultimately leading to comprehensive, consensual, and sustainable solutions.”
The statement further reiterated Qatar’s “full support for all regional and international efforts aimed at consolidating security, peace, and stability in the region”.
On Wednesday, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, held a phone call with India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
During the call, both officials discussed diplomatic avenues to resolve the escalating situation, with Sheikh Mohammed reiterating Qatar’s “deep concern” and its “full support for all regional and international efforts” to resolve the crisis through dialogue.
India-Pakistan, on the brink
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours escalated after a militant attack in Pahalgam on the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir left 26 tourists dead and 20 others injured on April 22.
India blamed Pakistan-based groups for the attack, a charge that Islamabad denied. The attack, which targeted civilians, was the deadliest in the region in two decades and ignited widespread outrage across India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed that the country would pursue the perpetrators “to the ends of the Earth” and that those responsible for planning and executing the attack would face punishment beyond their imagination.
Following the attack, India took several measures including suspending the long-standing river water-sharing treaty, stopping the issuance of visas to Pakistani citizens, and expelling Pakistani diplomats. In response, Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian flights and halted bilateral trade.
The two countries are also engaged in cross-border skirmishes along the Line of Control, the de facto frontier dividing Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan.
Qatar Airways halts flights
Qatar Airways has also announced the temporary suspension of flights to Pakistan, citing the closure of Pakistani airspace as the reason for the disruption.
“Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to Pakistan due to Pakistani airspace closure. The airline is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to prioritise the safety of its passengers and crew,” the airline posted on its official X account.
Flights throughout South Asia have faced major disruptions following the emergency closure of airspace in Pakistan and northern India, with both international and domestic travel bearing the brunt.
