ANAA, March 2 (Saba) - Pakistan reopened its airspace partly on Friday after thousands of passengers around the world suspended because Islamabad closed its airports due to rising tensions with India.


A spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said Pakistan's airspace was "partially open", adding that it would be fully open Monday.


A spokesman for the agency said that incoming and outgoing flights at airports in Islamabad, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta would be allowed to fly at 6 pm (1300 GMT), adding that other airports would be reopened "gradually".


Pakistan announced on Wednesday the closure of airspace "indefinitely", after clashes between the air force of the two countries, India and Pakistan, in the atmosphere of disputed Kashmir.


Islamabad confirmed it had shot down two Indian planes, after New Delhi confirmed it had shot down a Pakistani plane.


Fearing an escalating tension between the two nuclear powers, Pakistan decided on Thursday to release an Indian pilot whose plane crashed on Wednesday in Pakistan's Kashmir, which is scheduled to be handed over to the Indian authorities on Friday afternoon.


Clogged airspace has disrupted traffic between Europe and South Asia amid concerns that passengers may face stranding at the international airports.


Singapore Airlines was forced to divert flights to Europe for Bombay to refuel, while a flight to Frankfurt was canceled.


AA
Saba