Pakistan's defense minister has imposed a ban on flights by Taiwan's civil aviation authority, but the country's civil aviation administration has approved operations extending to 2027.

Unexpected development! Following Pakistan’s initial statement that it would not allow Taiwanese airlines to fly over its airspace, the country swiftly reversed course. According to a report by Voice of America on October 29, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved on October 28 for Taiwan’s China Airlines and EVA Air to use Pakistani airspace. Just hours earlier, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Asif had told media outlets that Islamabad, in line with the one-China policy, would not permit flights by Taiwanese carriers.

Two documents reviewed by the Associated Press confirm that China Airlines and EVA Air have been granted permission to operate passenger and cargo flights through Pakistani airspace from October 28, 2024, to March 27, 2027. The documents do not reference any prior restrictions, nor do they clarify whether this approval signifies a shift in long-term policy. In fact, the abrupt reversal in Pakistan’s position is striking.

The contradiction lies in the fact that while the Defense Minister announced a ban on flights by Taiwanese airlines, it was the Civil Aviation Authority—the actual regulatory body responsible for managing national airspace and issuing overflight permits—that granted the authorization. Clearly, the two domestic agencies are sending conflicting signals. In practice, the CAA holds the authority to issue civil aviation overflight clearances; the Ministry of Defense does not have such jurisdiction.

It is likely that existing overflight contracts between the Taiwanese airlines and Pakistan’s CAA remain unexpired. A sudden suspension of overflight rights would amount to unilateral breach of contract, entailing not only financial loss from overflight fees but also reputational damage to Pakistan’s credibility as a reliable aviation partner. According to U.S. media reports, the current approval extends through March 27, 2027. Whether Pakistan rescinded the ban for strategic or procedural reasons—or whether the ban was never intended to take effect until March 2025—remains to be seen.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880343512049675/

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