Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban on Indian Aircraft Until June 24
By Bilal Haider :
The Pakistan Airports Authority has extended restrictions on Indian-owned and Indian-operated aircraft from using Pakistani airspace until 4:59am on June 24, according to a fresh Notice to Airmen (Notam) issued on Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the PAA said the restrictions came into effect immediately and apply to all Indian-registered commercial and military aircraft. The ban also covers aircraft leased or operated by Indian airlines.
The previous restriction was scheduled to expire on May 24, 2026, but authorities decided to prolong the closure amid continuing tensions between Pakistan and India.
Pakistan first closed its airspace to Indian airlines in April last year following heightened bilateral tensions after the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for the incident, allegations that Pakistan rejected while also demanding an independent and transparent investigation.
The diplomatic confrontation escalated further after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting reciprocal measures from Pakistan.
Following Islamabad’s decision, India also imposed restrictions on Pakistani airlines from using its airspace on April 30 last year.
Tensions later intensified after India launched attacks on multiple Pakistani cities on May 6 and 7, 2025. In response, Pakistan’s armed forces initiated “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos” and targeted several Indian military installations.
Pakistan claimed its forces shot down eight Indian fighter aircraft, including three Dassault Rafale jets, along with dozens of drones during the confrontation.
The conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours lasted nearly 87 hours before ending with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States on May 10.
According to aviation analysts, the prolonged closure of Pakistani airspace has caused major operational and financial losses for Indian airlines, which have been forced to use longer alternative routes for flights to Europe, the Middle East and North America.
Pakistani aviation, however, has reportedly faced comparatively limited disruption due to the reciprocal restrictions.
This is not the first time Pakistan has imposed airspace restrictions on India. Similar closures were implemented during the Kargil War and after the Pulwama attack, both of which significantly affected Indian aviation operations.
About Author
