In Pakistan, rumors about convening an extraordinary meeting of the nuclear command body have been denied, and the country’s airspace has been closed
In official circles in Pakistan, tensions have risen ahead of potential escalation of the conflict with India. However, the government has officially denied reports of a special session of the nuclear command body. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif made an official statement on Saturday, emphasizing that since India's recent military actions against Pakistani positions, no meetings of the National Command Authority—responsible for coordinating the country's nuclear resources and strategies—have taken place. Sources from military and governmental circles, including news agencies Reuters and Geo News, reported that earlier there were rumors about a meeting of this high-level council convened by the Pakistani Prime Minister. However, an official spokesperson from health authorities assured: "The nuclear scenario exists, but we should avoid unnecessary discussions about it. It is a very distant prospect, and at the moment, there is no point in talking about it. No meetings of the National Command Authority have been held and are not planned." On the other hand, international diplomacy and the overall situation on the border remain complex. The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, held diplomatic talks with Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Muneer and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. During these contacts, the American diplomat urged both sides to "restore a direct and open communication channel" and to avoid unfounded miscalculations that could lead to uncontrollable escalation. Pakistani Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in a conversation with local journalists, suggested that "if India halts its actions now, Pakistan may consider a temporary de-escalation." Indian media reported that on Saturday, officials from both countries engaged in dialogue again through international mediators. Meanwhile, in Karachi, at Jinnah International Airport, there were confirmations that, following India's missile attack, the government of Pakistan closed its airspace to all types of flights. According to witnesses and airport staff, flights were suspended from 3:15 AM to 12:00 PM local time on May 10 (i.e., until 10 a.m. Kyiv time) due to the tense situation on the border. Foreign nationals at the airport reported that they were relocated from the terminal to hotels for safety reasons. At the same time, local authorities advised other passengers to check the status of their flights with airlines before arriving at the airport to avoid confusion and delays. This crisis was triggered by recent escalations. On the night of May 10, Pakistan officially announced the beginning of a large-scale military operation in response to attacks by India, which started on Tuesday, May 6. India launched missile strikes on targets it claims are bases of terrorist groups within Pakistan, sparking rapid escalation of the conflict. Pakistani military and political leaders promised a decisive response, and tensions along the India-Pakistan border remained high. Currently, the situation continues to be tense, and possible developments depend on subsequent diplomatic steps and internal political decisions by both countries. The Pakistani government has clearly stated that it does not plan to convene or hold sessions of nuclear bodies under conditions that differ significantly from normal operational procedures. Nonetheless, the rising military tensions and closure of the airspace suggest the potential for unpredictable changes in the situation. Experts warn that any escalation by these two nuclear-armed states could have catastrophic consequences not only for the region but for the entire world. Therefore, the international community calls for maximum restraint from both sides and emphasizes the importance of diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict. Meanwhile, the situation remains tense, and any news from the border should be approached with caution and careful attention to official sources.