PAA’s fresh NOTAM keeps the ban on Indian registered, operated, owned and leased aircraft in place
Air space. Photo: (file)
Pakistan extended the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft till August 24, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said on Saturday.
The PAA issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to extend the ban on Indian aircraft, under which they would not be permitted to use Pakistani airspace.
The authority noted that the ban applied to Indian-registered, operated, owned and leased aircraft, while the restriction on the use of Pakistani airspace by Indian military and civilian aircraft remains in effect.
Earlier, the PAA extended the restriction on Indian aircraft using its airspace till June 24, and before that, till May 24, April 24 and till March 23.
Pakistan has kept its airspace closed to Indian aircraft since April 2025, when tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi sharply escalated following an attack in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The attack killed 26 people and India immediately blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically denied the blame and offered to support a neutral investigation.
Read: A year later, India failed to produce evidence of the Pahalgam attack: Tarar
In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the day after the incident. On 23 April 2025, it suspended the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), canceled visas for Pakistani nationals, closed the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordered the closure of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reduced diplomatic staff at each other’s embassies.
Tensions escalated further in May when missile attacks hit six towns in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.
Read more: Taliban use Indian funds for cross-border terrorism against Pakistan: former Afghan army chief
In response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. India then targeted several Pakistani airbases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations, including missile sites, air bases and other strategic targets.
On May 10, 2025, the President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced that a ceasefire had been reached after intense diplomatic efforts. Minutes later, the agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian foreign minister.
