Pakistan Extends Airspace Closure for Indian Aircraft

Karachi (Web Desk) – : Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has announced an extension of its airspace closure for Indian-registered aircraft, keeping restrictions in place for nearly 10 months. According to a fresh Notice to Airmen (Notam), the ban will now remain effective until March 23.

Under the directive, all Indian civil and military aircraft are prohibited from transiting through Pakistani airspace. The closure, first imposed on April 23, 2025, is part of ongoing bilateral tensions between the two nations.

The move followed India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty after the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). In response, India also closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025.

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Tensions escalated further in May 2025 when India launched attacks on multiple Pakistani cities on May 6-7. Pakistan retaliated through a large-scale military operation, “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” targeting several Indian military positions. The conflict resulted in seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale, being shot down along with multiple drones. After at least 87 hours of hostilities, a ceasefire was brokered by the United States on May 10.

While India’s aviation sector has faced significant disruptions and losses due to the closure, Pakistani airlines have experienced minimal impact. Analysts note that similar airspace restrictions were previously imposed during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, with India facing greater operational challenges in both cases.

The extended Notam underscores the continued friction between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, keeping cross-border aviation limited for Indian carriers.