The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace until Nov. 24, according to a notice issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority on Saturday.
A PAA spokesperson said the notice to airmen, known as a
NOTAM, would remain in effect until 5 a.m. on Nov. 24. The restriction applies
to Indian aircraft operating through Pakistani airspace.
Pakistan initially imposed the ban on April 23, 2025, amid
heightened tensions with India following an attack in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered
Kashmir.
India accused Pakistan of involvement in the attack, an
allegation Islamabad denied. Pakistan called for an independent and transparent
investigation.
India subsequently closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines
on April 30, 2025, in a reciprocal move.
Tensions escalated in May 2025, when India launched strikes
on locations in Pakistan on May 6 and 7. Pakistan responded with a military
operation targeting Indian military installations. The confrontation ended with
a ceasefire announced on May 10, 2025, following several days of hostilities.
During the confrontation, Pakistan said it had shot down
eight Indian fighter aircraft, including three Rafale jets. Those claims were
not independently verified in the information provided.
The continuing airspace restrictions have disrupted aviation
operations between the two countries, forcing airlines to adjust routes and, in
some cases, increasing travel times and costs.
Pakistan and India have imposed reciprocal airspace
restrictions during previous periods of heightened tensions, including after
the 2019 Pulwama attack and during earlier military confrontations.
The latest extension underscores the continuing impact of
strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors on regional air travel.
