New Delhi: Hours after Pakistan announced that it would suspend the trade relations with India, the neighbouring country partially closed its airspace from August 6 to September 5 for Indian flights. The airspace will be closed from 2.45 am to 11 am daily, excluding Sundays along the border with India. This move by Pakistan comes amid escalating tension between both the countries over the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

This is not the first time Pakistan has closed its airspace for India, the country had imposed a ban on flights over its air space for India following the Balakot air strikes in February. Pakistan had closed its airspace on February 26 after the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted air strikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist training camp in Balakot following the Pulwama terror attack in Kashmir. It, however, later opened two southern routes, of the total 11.

Earlier today, Pakistan's top civil and military leadership decided to expel Indian High Commissioner Ajay Bisaria and suspend bilateral trade with India in the wake of New Delhi's move of revoking special status for Jammu and Kashmir. The move, however, would have "very minimal" impact on India's overall trade scenario and its businesses.

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The major reason for the nominal impact of the trade suspension on India's businesses and economy is that a large part of the trade between the two countries takes place through the informal route, which means that the trade takes place through a third country.

(With inputs from agencies)