At least 21 airports across India, primarily in northern and north-western regions, have been closed for passenger flights until May 10, following a government directive amid Indian military strikes near the border with Pakistan, Indian outlet The Hindu reported.

“These airports will remain closed till 5:29am on May 10, as per the notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued to airlines accessed by The Hindu through sources in the Ministry of Civil Aviation,” the publication reported.

According to The Hindu, the closures affect “airports at Jammu and Srinagar in [India-occupied Kashmir] and Leh; Amritsar, Chandigarh, Patiala, Halwara airports in [Indian] Punjab; Shimla and Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh; Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Kishangarh in Rajasthan; and Bhuj, Jamnagar, Rajkot, Mundra, Porbandar, Kandla, Keshod, and Bhuj in Gujarat, as per a NOTAM issued by the Airports Authority of India”.

The Hindu added that many of these airports are used jointly by airlines and the Indian Air Force.

“This resulted in a large number of flight cancellations by Indian airlines operating domestic routes. Some international flights were also hit as airlines, including those of the US, couldn’t use Pakistan’s airspace to enter into India,” the paper added.

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