Pakistan Extends Airspace Ban On Indian Aircraft Until Sept 24

Pakistan on Wednesday extended its restriction on Indian aircraft using its airspace for another month, keeping the ban in force until September 24, 2026. The decision was announced through a Notice to Airmen issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority, making it the latest continuation of aviation curbs linked to prolonged tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.

The restriction applies to all civil and military aircraft registered in India, including planes operated by Indian airlines. Officials said the extension also covers leased aircraft, meaning Indian-registered planes cannot cross Pakistani airspace even if they are being operated under special commercial or operational arrangements.

The move is significant because Pakistan’s airspace remains a key corridor for regional and long-haul aviation routes. Continued closure can force carriers to use longer paths, increase fuel costs, disrupt schedules and complicate flight planning, particularly on routes connecting India with parts of West Asia, Europe and Central Asia.

According to the Pakistan Airports Authority, the latest NOTAM formally extends a restriction that has already been renewed several times. Earlier extensions had kept the ban in place until August 24, with previous deadlines also falling in June, May, April and March, showing that the closure has become part of a wider diplomatic and security standoff.

The airspace curb has its roots in tensions that escalated sharply after the Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir in April 2025. India blamed Pakistan soon after the incident, while Islamabad rejected the allegation and offered support for a neutral investigation into the attack.

The diplomatic fallout was swift. India moved to suspend the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty, cancelled visas for Pakistani nationals, shut the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordered the closure of Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi and reduced diplomatic staff at embassies on both sides.

Military tensions later deepened in May 2025 after missile strikes hit parts of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan said civilian areas were affected, while the confrontation expanded into air and missile exchanges before international diplomacy helped push both sides toward a ceasefire.

For Pakistan, the continued airspace restriction is both a security measure and a political signal. It keeps pressure on India while reinforcing Islamabad’s position that normal aviation access cannot continue when broader relations remain strained and unresolved disputes continue to affect regional stability.

The extension is likely to affect airlines, passengers and regional connectivity if it remains in place for another month. The next key date is September 24, when authorities will either allow the restriction to expire, issue another extension or announce a revised aviation policy based on the security and diplomatic environment at that time.