Hajj flights from Pakistan disrupted amid India tensions

Tensions between Pakistan and India have disrupted Hajj flight operations in Pakistan, stranding thousands of pilgrims and sparking concerns over delays in their religious journey to Saudi Arabia.

Flight operations from multiple Pakistani cities were suspended for two consecutive days following cross-border hostilities earlier this week. As a result, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs reported Friday that at least 3,851 Hajj pilgrims have been unable to travel.

“Due to the tense Pak-India situation, Hajj flights are facing serious disruption,” a senior official at the Ministry of Religious Affairs told Nukta. “This affects not only schedules, but also the 40-day pilgrimage cycle of each pilgrim.”

According to the Ministry, 2,267 pilgrims were scheduled to depart on Wednesday, but only 703 managed to reach Saudi Arabia. None of the 2,287 pilgrims slated to travel on Thursday were able to leave.

To address the crisis, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, currently in Saudi Arabia overseeing the Hajj operation, visited the Pakistan Hajj Mission in Medina on Thursday. There, he reviewed the flight delays and directed the mission to ensure timely transport for all pilgrims.

A helpline has also been established in Islamabad to support stranded pilgrims. The helpline desk, reachable at +92 51 9216980, is operational 24/7 and provides updated flight schedules and instructions. Pilgrims have also been advised to stay in contact with their assigned Hajj camps.

Saudi Airlines, a major partner in Pakistan’s Hajj operation, has been particularly impacted due to a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued by Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority. To mitigate disruptions, Pakistani authorities have begun shifting Saudi Airlines pilgrims to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights, with operations rerouted through Lahore airport.

“We are making every possible effort to get pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on time and ensure their return within the scheduled 40-day window,” the ministry official said. “Delays will not only impact the spiritual obligations of the pilgrims but also cause financial losses to the government.”

Overseas Pakistanis performing Hajj face compounded difficulties, the official added, as they must first return to Pakistan before flying to Saudi Arabia. The suspension of flights has left many in distress.

A PIA official told Nukta that flights were disrupted from Thursday because aircraft could not reach Lahore from Karachi. “Once the planes reach Lahore, we will resume Hajj departures immediately,” the official said.

Pakistan’s flight operations were partially halted on Wednesday and Thursday following what authorities described as an Indian aerial incursion on Tuesday night. The military standoff has led to the grounding of both commercial and Hajj flights.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation and are exploring contingency plans to prevent further delays in the Hajj pilgrimage.