Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft for another month

Pakistan has extended restrictions preventing Indian-registered aircraft from using Pakistani airspace for another month, according to a notice to airmen issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority. The limitation applies to Indian-owned, operated and leased aircraft, including military flights.\n\nAuthorities said the renewed restriction will remain in effect from late January to late February, continuing a measure they described as already in place for months. The move is tied to a broader cycle of retaliatory steps between Pakistan and India over heightened bilateral tensions.\n\nOfficials said Pakistan initially imposed the airspace ban in April 2025 after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in the aftermath of a deadly attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, describing Pakistan’s step as a reciprocal response. India later closed its airspace to Pakistani carriers, while Pakistan continued issuing extensions to its own restrictions.\n\nThe report also references the escalation that followed, including cross-border hostilities and a subsequent ceasefire brokered by the United States after several days of conflict. It notes that the aviation impact has been heavier for India than for Pakistan and recalls that similar airspace closures have occurred during earlier crises, including the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama episode.