ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian-registered aircraft from using Pakistani airspace for another month, with the restriction now valid until February 24, 2026, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Tuesday.
Under the latest NOTAM, the restriction will remain in force from January 25 to February 24, 2026, until 5:00am (PST). The ban applies to all Indian-owned, operated, or leased aircraft, including military flights.
The PAA stated that the decision continues a restriction that has been in place for the past nine months, amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India.
Pakistan initially closed its airspace in a tit-for-tat response after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India subsequently shut its airspace to Pakistani airlines on April 30, while Pakistan extended its restriction on May 23.
Tensions escalated further when India launched unprovoked attacks on Pakistani cities on May 6–7, prompting Pakistan’s armed forces to respond with Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting multiple Indian military installations.
Pakistan reportedly shot down seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafale aircraft, along with dozens of drones. The conflict ended after 87 hours with a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
While India’s aviation sector has suffered significant financial losses due to longer flight routes, the impact on Pakistan’s aviation industry has remained minimal.
Pakistan has previously imposed similar airspace restrictions during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama crisis, both times causing greater disruption to Indian aviation.