Islamabad, 17 December 2025 – Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace for Indian aircraft for another month, until 24 January 2026, according to a Notam issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday.
29th CNS Open Golf Championship Kicks Off at Karachi Golf Club
The restriction, in effect since December 16, applies to all Indian-owned, operated, and leased aircraft, including military flights. The PAA said the decision continues an existing ban that has been in place for the past eight months, bringing the total duration of the closure to 210 days.
Pakistan initially imposed the airspace ban in response to India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty amid heightened tensions following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India retaliated by closing its airspace to Pakistani airlines on 30 April 2025.
The escalation in May 2025 saw India launching attacks on multiple Pakistani cities on 6–7 May. In response, Pakistan’s armed forces carried out “Operation Bunyanum Marsoos,” targeting Indian military installations. Pakistan reported downing seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. The conflict ended on 10 May with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire after at least 87 hours of fighting.
While India’s aviation industry has suffered significant losses due to the ongoing restrictions, Pakistani airlines have reported minimal impact. Similar airspace closures were previously enacted during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, in both cases causing greater disruption for Indian aviation.
