ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Wednesday decided not to lift its airspace ban forIndian flights till May 30, as Islamabad is awaiting the outcome of the LokSabha polls in India.

Pakistan fully closed its airspace after an Indian Air Force strike on aJaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot on February 26. However,Pakistan opened its airspace for all flights except for New Delhi, Bangkokand Kuala Lumpur on March 27.

“The top officials of defence and aviation ministries held a meeting onWednesday to reconsider opening its airspace for Indian flights. Theydecided that Pakistan’s airspace will remain banned for the Indian flightstill May 30, a senior government official told PTI after the meeting.

He said the Civil Aviation Authority has also notified the decision to theairmen. The authority issued a notification (Notam) after the meeting topilots, advising them of circumstances relating to the state of flying.

The official said the government will now consider the lifting of the banon Pakistan’s airspace for Indian flights on May 30.

Pakistan’s Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry early this weeksaid that the status quo will remain till the conclusion of elections inIndia.

“Status quo will remain till the elections are over in India. I don’t seeany improvement in relations between Pakistan and India till the electionsare over and a new government is installed. The ban on airspace by eachother I think will also continue till Indian polls,” Chaudhry told PTI.