By Asif Shahzad, Ariba Shahid and Fayaz Bukhari ISLAMABAD/SRINAGAR, India (Reuters) -Pakistan closed its air space for Indian airlines and rejected New Delhi's suspension of a critical water sharing treaty on Thursday in retaliation for India's response to a deadly Islamist militant attack on tourists in Indian Kashmir.

Flights from India to Europe, Canada and the US will take about two hours longer and airlines will be forced to cut payloads after Pakistan closed its airspace to carriers from its neighboring nation.

Pakistan's decision to close its airspace to India has caused widespread disruption for Indian airlines. Many flights experienced significant delays and cancellations. The closure is a direct response to rising tensions between the two countries.