Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is 'likely' to suspend flight operations along the Karachi to Mumbai route, airline sources told Dawn.com.

PIA Spokesperson Danyal Gillani, when contacted, said PIA is considering suspending flight operations along the Karachi-Mumbai route, but a final decision is yet to be made on the matter.

Dismissing media reports that operations are being suspended due to tense relations between India and Pakistan, the spokesperson asserted that the reasons behind the move are "purely commercial".

He explained that the move may be taken due to declining traffic along the route, adding that flights along the Lahore-New Delhi route will continue operations.

Tense relations

India and Pakistan have faced off with increasing frequency over the Kashmir issue since last year's killing of Burhan Wani, a young, charismatic commander of a Kashmiri separatist outfit whose death triggered statewide protests and riots.

Just this week, a delegation of Pakistani students and their teachers were forced to cut short their visit to India amid Indian allegations that Pakistani troops had mutilated two Indian soldiers, a claim denied by Pakistan.

The 50-member delegation, comprising Pakistani students, their teachers and staffers, were sent back on Wednesday after the government advised their Indian host organisation against hosting them at a time which was not “appropriate”

Pakistani sports teams have also been repeatedly denied visas to attend transnational sporting events hosted in India, often without any reason assigned for the denial.