Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s return journey from Jeddah to New Delhi on Wednesday morning bypassed Pakistani airspace, a deviation from the route taken on his outbound flight. This adjustment followed a deadly militant attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region that claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
The Indian Air Force-operated Boeing 777-300, designated K7067, traversed Pakistan’s airspace en route to Saudi Arabia. However, the return flight opted for an alternative path, avoiding Pakistani territory. This change is perceived as a security measure in response to the Pahalgam attack, which marked the deadliest assault on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The assault targeted a group of tourists in the Pahalgam area, resulting in 26 fatalities, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, and injuring 17 others. The militant group “Kashmir Resistance” claimed responsibility, alleging the victims were linked to Indian security agencies. The attack disrupted the region’s tourism industry, which had seen growth following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019.
In the aftermath, Prime Minister Modi curtailed his visit to Saudi Arabia and convened an emergency security meeting upon his return. Home Minister Amit Shah visited Srinagar, pledging stringent action against those responsible. Security forces launched a manhunt, detaining approximately 100 individuals suspected of sympathizing with the attackers.
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