India Prolongs Airspace Ban on Pakistan Flights Amid Ongoing Tensions

Airspace Closure Extended

New Delhi: The Indian government has decided to extend the ban on Pakistani aircraft from entering its airspace for an additional month, now set to last until August 24.

This decision follows the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals. Consequently, India implemented the airspace restriction on April 30 for all aircraft operated, owned, or leased by Pakistan, including military flights.

The extension of this ban is part of a broader set of actions taken by the Indian government in response to the aforementioned attack.

"The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) prohibiting Pakistani aircraft from accessing Indian airspace has been officially prolonged until August 23, 2025," stated Murlidhar Mohol, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation.

This extension underscores ongoing strategic assessments and aligns with current security protocols, as noted by the minister in a recent post on X.

Originally, the airspace closure was scheduled to conclude on May 24, but it has been extended multiple times—first to June 24, then to July 24.

The latest NOTAM will remain in effect until 2359 hours (UTC) on August 23, which translates to 0530 hours (IST) on August 24.

In a reciprocal move, Pakistan has also announced a one-month extension of its airspace closure for Indian flights, maintaining the ban until August 24.

This restriction was first imposed on April 24, following India's suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. The ban has since been extended multiple times, reflecting the ongoing tensions between the two nations.