A day after Pakistan downgraded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/abrogation-of-article-370-pakistan-downgrades-ties-with-india-looks-towards-china-for-support-241399">diplomatic ties with India</a>, the ministry of external affairs in a statement said that Pakistan's intention was to present an "alarming picture to the world of our bilateral ties".

Pakistan on Wednesday had announced that it will be downgrading<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-support-direct-dialogue-between-india-pak-on-kashmir-us-state-department-241415"> diplomatic ties with India</a>. In a follow-up move, the Imran Khan government also expelled Indian envoy to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and said that the new Pakistan high commissioner to India Moin-ul-Haq won't be sent to Delhi.

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Pakistan's move&nbsp;came in the wake of the Indian government's decision to scrap Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

India's ministry of external affairs said the recent decisions by the government and Parliament&nbsp;were&nbsp;driven by a commitment to extend opportunities to Jammu and Kashmir for development which were earlier denied by the temporary provision in the Constitution.

"It is not surprising that such developmental initiatives that could address any disaffection in Jammu and Kashmir should be negatively perceived in Pakistan, which has utilised such sentiments to justify its cross-border terrorism," the external affairs ministry said.

"The recent developments pertaining to Article 370 are entirely the internal affair of India," the statement added.

"The government regrets the steps announced by Pakistan on Wednesday and would urge that country to review them so that normal channels for diplomatic communications are preserved," the external affairs ministry asserted.

In a related development, Islamabad also partially closed its airspace with India on the eastern front. At least three entry points out of the nine between India and Pakistan on the eastern were closed, according to reports.

The airspace will be closed from August 6 to September 5 between 02:45 to 11:00(Pakistan Standard Time)&nbsp;every day except Sundays.&nbsp; 
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A day after Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India, the ministry of external affairs in a statement said that Pakistan's intention was to present an "alarming picture to the world of our bilateral ties".

A day after Pakistan downgraded diplomatic ties with India, the ministry of external affairs in a statement said that Pakistan's intention was to present an "alarming picture to the world of our bilateral ties". Pakistan on Wednesday had announced that it will be downgrading diplomatic ties with India. In a follow-up move, the Imran Khan government also expelled Indian envoy to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria and said that the new Pakistan high commissioner to India Moin-ul-Haq won't be sent to Delhi. Watch Video: Pakistan's move came in the wake of the Indian government's decision to scrap Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. India's ministry of external affairs said the recent decisions by the government and Parliament were driven by a commitment to extend opportunities to Jammu and Kashmir for development which were earlier denied by the temporary provision in the Constitution. "It is not surprising that such developmental initiatives that could address any disaffection in Jammu and Kashmir should be negatively perceived in Pakistan, which has utilised such sentiments to justify its cross-border terrorism," the external affairs ministry said. "The recent developments pertaining to Article 370 are entirely the internal affair of India," the statement added. "The government regrets the steps announced by Pakistan on Wednesday and would urge that country to review them so that normal channels for diplomatic communications are preserved," the external affairs ministry asserted. In a related development, Islamabad also partially closed its airspace with India on the eastern front. At least three entry points out of the nine between India and Pakistan on the eastern were closed, according to reports. The airspace will be closed from August 6 to September 5 between 02:45 to 11:00(Pakistan Standard Time) every day except Sundays.

Pakistan trying to present alarming picture by downgrading diplomatic ties: India

In the wake of India's decision to strip special status of Jammu and Kashmir, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-support-direct-dialogue-between-india-pak-on-kashmir-us-state-department-241415">Pakistan must refrain from any retaliatory</a> aggression, including support for infiltrations across the Line of Control (LoC) and take demonstrable action against terror infrastructure on its soil, said a joint statement by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.

The statement issued by Representative Eliot L. Engel, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-partially-closes-its-airspace-with-india-on-eastern-front-241404">Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs</a> Committee and Senator Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that transparency and political participation are the cornerstones of representative democracies and hoped that the Indian government would abide by these principles in Jammu and Kashmir.

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"As the world's largest democracy, India has an opportunity to demonstrate for all its citizens the importance of protecting and promoting equal rights, including freedom of assembly, access to information, and equal protection under the law," the statement said. &nbsp;

"Transparency and political participation are the cornerstones of representative democracies and we hope the India government will abide by these principles in Jammu and Kasmir," it added.

"And at the same time, Pakistan must refrain from any retaliatory aggression--including support for infiltrations across the Line of Control--and take demonstrable action against the&nbsp;infrastructure on Pakistan's soil," the statement said.

The joint statement comes amid spiralling tensions between India and Pakistan which came after the Indian Parliament passed a resolution to revoke Article 370 that granted to Jammu and Kashmir and a bill bifurcating the border state into two Union Territories earlier this week.

Rattled by New Delhi's decisions, Islamabad "rejected" the move and said it will exercise "all possible options" to counter the steps.&nbsp;

In the wake of India's decision to strip special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan must refrain from any retaliatory aggression, including support for infiltrations across the Line of Control (LoC) and take demonstrable action against terror infrastructure on its soil, said a joint statement by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.

In the wake of India's decision to strip special status of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan must refrain from any retaliatory aggression, including support for infiltrations across the Line of Control (LoC) and take demonstrable action against terror infrastructure on its soil, said a joint statement by the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday. The statement issued by Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senator Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that transparency and political participation are the cornerstones of representative democracies and hoped that the Indian government would abide by these principles in Jammu and Kashmir. Watch Video: "As the world's largest democracy, India has an opportunity to demonstrate for all its citizens the importance of protecting and promoting equal rights, including freedom of assembly, access to information, and equal protection under the law," the statement said. "Transparency and political participation are the cornerstones of representative democracies and we hope the India government will abide by these principles in Jammu and Kasmir," it added. "And at the same time, Pakistan must refrain from any retaliatory aggression--including support for infiltrations across the Line of Control--and take demonstrable action against the infrastructure on Pakistan's soil," the statement said. The joint statement comes amid spiralling tensions between India and Pakistan which came after the Indian Parliament passed a resolution to revoke Article 370 that granted to Jammu and Kashmir and a bill bifurcating the border state into two Union Territories earlier this week. Rattled by New Delhi's decisions, Islamabad "rejected" the move and said it will exercise "all possible options" to counter the steps.

Pak must stop supporting infiltration across LoC: US Senate foreign affairs committee

The Afghan government raised the issue of Pakistan air space ban on Monday as its airline continued to face problems in reaching India.

The Afghan government raised the matter through its officials and will raise it again. On being asked whether Kabul is hopeful on Pakistan opening its airspace, sources told WION that they are "negotiating".

The Pakistan government closed its air space on February 27 after launching strikes on Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir. The airstrikes were in response to India's counter-terror strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan on February 26.

So far, the Pakistan government has partially opened its airspace in the west side of the country, but along the Indian border, it continues to be closed. No flights going from India to westwards or coming from Afghanistan or beyond to India are allowed to use Pakistan air space.

The partial Pakistan airspace ban has particularly impacted Afghan airlines, who have to take a longer route over Iran, but also spend more on fuel which increases the cost of the ticket.&nbsp;

Delhi to Kabul flight that used to take less than two hours before, now takes more than five hours.

Cost of a one-way ticket from Afghanistan to India for Afghan airlines such as Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air Airline stands at $200 to $300 respectively. This was previously at $145 for Ariana Afghan Airlines and $160 for Kam Air Airline.&nbsp;

According to local Pakistan media reports, its national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suffered a loss of over Rs 1 billion due to "closure of certain routes for the airline".

The Afghan government raised the issue of Pakistan air space ban on Monday as its airline continued to face problems in reaching India. The Afghan government raised the matter through its officials and will raise it again.

The Afghan government raised the issue of Pakistan air space ban on Monday as its airline continued to face problems in reaching India. The Afghan government raised the matter through its officials and will raise it again. On being asked whether Kabul is hopeful on Pakistan opening its airspace, sources told WION that they are "negotiating". The Pakistan government closed its air space on February 27 after launching strikes on Indian military installations in Jammu and Kashmir. The airstrikes were in response to India's counter-terror strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed's terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan on February 26. So far, the Pakistan government has partially opened its airspace in the west side of the country, but along the Indian border, it continues to be closed. No flights going from India to westwards or coming from Afghanistan or beyond to India are allowed to use Pakistan air space. The partial Pakistan airspace ban has particularly impacted Afghan airlines, who have to take a longer route over Iran, but also spend more on fuel which increases the cost of the ticket. Delhi to Kabul flight that used to take less than two hours before, now takes more than five hours. Cost of a one-way ticket from Afghanistan to India for Afghan airlines such as Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air Airline stands at $200 to $300 respectively. This was previously at $145 for Ariana Afghan Airlines and $160 for Kam Air Airline. According to local Pakistan media reports, its national carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suffered a loss of over Rs 1 billion due to "closure of certain routes for the airline".

Afghan government raises partial airspace ban issue with Pakistan