The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (Notam) extending the closure of Pakistani airspace to Indian-registered aircraft and those operated or leased by Indian airlines, including military flights, until October 23. This marks the 17th extension since the initial ban was enforced on April 23, 2025.

The ban originated after Islamabad prohibited Indian airlines from using its airspace following New Delhi’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. This diplomatic rift escalated in the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which India attributed to Pakistan, an accusation strongly denied by Islamabad. Pakistan has consistently called for an independent and transparent inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, India reciprocated by closing its airspace to Pakistani carriers on April 30, 2025. The situation intensified further when India conducted airstrikes on several Pakistani cities on May 6 and 7. Pakistan retaliated with Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting multiple Indian military sites in a significant counteroffensive. During this conflict, Pakistan shot down eight Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, along with numerous drones.

The hostilities spanned nearly 87 hours before both nuclear-armed neighbors agreed to a US-mediated ceasefire on May 10. The ongoing airspace restrictions have inflicted a considerably heavier financial toll on India’s aviation industry, whereas Pakistan’s aviation sector has faced relatively minor disruptions.

Historically, Pakistan has imposed similar airspace bans during periods of heightened conflict, such as the 1999 Kargil war and the 2019 Pulwama crisis. In each instance, Indian airlines encountered more significant operational challenges compared to their Pakistani counterparts.