Imran Khan says ready for talks with PM Modi
Islamabad, Nov 29: Making peace overtures, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said he was ready to hold talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as he conceded that it was not in Islamabad's interest to allow use of its territory for terror activities outside the country.
Khan was apparently referring to India's stance that terrorism and talks cannot go together and Pakistan must take effective and credible action to stop providing shelter and support to cross border terrorism from territories under its control.
"It is not in our interest to allow use of Pakistan's territory for terror outside," Khan said during an interaction with a group of Indian journalists here.
Khan said that people in Pakistan want peace with India and he will be happy to meet Indian Prime Minister Modi and talk to him.
"The mindset of people here has changed," Khan said.
When asked whether it is possible to resolve the Kashmir issue, the Pakistan Prime Minister said, "nothing is impossible."
"I am ready for talks on any issue. There can't be a military solution for Kashmir," he said.
He, however, said the gesture for peace cannot be one-sided.
"We are willing to wait for (general) elections to get over in India for a gesture from New Delhi," Khan said.
On punishing Mumbai attack mastermind and Jamat-ud Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed, who is carrying a USD 10 million US bounty, said, "there are UN sanctions against Hafiz Saeed. There is already a clampdown on him.
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Indian airlines cancel 281 flights amid Middle East crisis
New Delhi (PTI): Indian carriers cancelled 281 international flights on Thursday due to the Middle East crisis, and the government is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the region.
The escalating conflict in the Middle East involving the US, Israel and Iran has resulted in airspace closures that have significantly impacted flight operations.
The civil aviation ministry on Thursday said it continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in West Asia.
"As of 5 March, a total of 281 flights scheduled to operate today by Indian domestic carriers have been cancelled. Passengers are advised to regularly monitor their flight status and remain attentive to updates shared through their registered contact details by their respective airlines," the ministry said in a post on X.
Meanwhile, a Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) is operational.
"A total of 1,461 grievances have been addressed during this period through AirSewa, social media platforms, and dedicated helpline calls, in coordination with airlines and other concerned stakeholders. For assistance, passengers may reach out to the Ministry's PACR helpline numbers: 011-24604283 / 011-24632987," the ministry said.
Meanwhile, at least 70 international flights were cancelled at Delhi and Bangalore airports on Thursday due to the Middle East crisis, officials said.
SpiceJet said it would operate 13 special flights on Thursday, while Akasa Air would have one flight as well as the return from Mumbai to Jeddah.
"Flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh and Kuwait will remain suspended until March 07, 2026," Akasa Air said in a post on X.
Carriers, including those from the Middle East, started operating a limited number of flights to ferry stranded passengers.
In a report on Thursday, credit rating agency S&P Global Ratings said it expects the conflict will likely have a more pronounced effect on Indian-headquartered carriers, given their higher capacity and number of routes to the Middle East.
"We believe carriers with a higher proportion of international routes will be most affected," it added.
According to the report, the Middle East is a critical hub for international air travel, with major airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha that connect passenger traffic between Europe, Asia, and beyond.
Leading regional airlines -- including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways, which are some of the largest airlines globally -- depend heavily on this region for their hub-and-spoke operations. As a result, they face more immediate challenges due to the recent escalations, the report said.
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