Pakistan on Wednesday extended its airspace ban on Indian aircraft until Sept. 24, continuing a restriction that was set to expire on Aug. 23.
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), said Pakistani airspace is “not available for Indian-registered aircraft and aircraft operated or leased by Indian airlines/operators, including military flights.”
The NOTAM further said the extension would take effect from Aug. 23 at 10:15 a.m. and would remain in force until 4:59 a.m. on Sept. 24. It applies to both the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions.
India and Pakistan closed their airspaces to each other’s airlines in April 2025 amidst heightened tensions following a deadly attack in India-held Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
Pakistan’s decision, announced on April 24, 2025, followed an earlier Indian restriction. Both states have since extended the ban several times, with Islamabad’s NOTAM marking the 16th such extension. The move is seen to be have a great impact on Indian airlines, forcing them to rely on longer routes, while having little impact on Pakistan.
New Delhi, without evidence, had alleged that Islamabad backed the Pahalgam attack and unilaterally suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting a stern response from Islamabad.
Pakistan maintains it has no involvement in the Pahalgam attack and has offered to participate in a neutral probe. Following their tit-for-tat announcements, the neighboring nations clashed in May, with Pakistan downing seven Indian fighter jets in the brief conflict that ended with the mediation of the United States.