Pakistan has officially extended the airspace closure to Indian aircraft for another month, maintaining restrictions that have been in place for nearly 10 months. The Pakistan Airports Authority has issued a new Notice to Airmen (Notam), confirming that the airspace will remain closed to Indian-registered aircraft until March 23, 2026.
The closure affects all Indian military and civil aircraft, continuing a policy that began on April 23, 2025. The decision to close the airspace was a response to New Delhi’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, following heightened tensions after the Pahalgam attack in the region of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
In retaliation to Pakistan’s actions, India also closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, 2025. The situation escalated with India launching attacks on multiple Pakistani cities on May 6-7, 2025, leading to a large-scale military response from Pakistan, known as ‘Operation Bunyanum Marsoos’. Pakistan’s forces targeted several Indian military installations, downing seven Indian fighter jets and numerous drones.
The conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations concluded with a ceasefire agreement, brokered by the United States, on May 10, 2025. While India’s aviation sector has suffered significant losses due to these closures, Pakistan’s aviation industry has remained relatively unaffected. Historically, similar airspace restrictions were imposed during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis.
As the closure continues, it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve, with potential diplomatic discussions or further military posturing expected in the coming months.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, February 19th, 2026
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