Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced on Thursday the closure of the country’s three main airports – Islamabad, Karachi, and Sialkot – until 13:00 GMT, citing “operational reasons.”

The closures come amid the most intense military confrontation between India and Pakistan in two decades in the disputed Kashmir region. The Pakistani military stated it is conducting operations to counter Indian drones launched toward its territory.

Earlier today, the Pakistani Army reported that it had neutralized 12 Indian drones at multiple locations, adding that one civilian was killed and four soldiers were wounded during the ongoing operations.

The escalating military tensions have raised fears of a broader conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbors, potentially threatening regional stability and security.