New PAA NOTAM maintains ban on aircraft registered, operated, owned and leased in India
Airspace. Photo: (file)
Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace to Indian planes until August 24, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced on Saturday.
The PAA has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) extending the ban on Indian aircraft, under which they would not be allowed to use Pakistani airspace.
The authority noted that the ban applied to aircraft registered, operated, owned and leased in India, with the restriction on the use of Pakistani airspace by Indian military and civilian aircraft remaining in force.
Earlier, the PAA had extended restrictions on Indian aircraft using its airspace till June 24, and before that, till May 24, April 24 and till March 23.
Pakistan has kept its airspace closed to Indian planes since April 2025, when tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi sharply escalated after an attack in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir region in Pahalgam.
The attack killed 26 people, with India immediately blaming Pakistan for the incident. Pakistan, however, categorically rejected this responsibility and offered to support a neutral investigation.
Read: A year later, India has failed to present evidence on Pahalgam attack: Tarar
In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the day after the incident. On April 23, 2025, he suspended the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), canceling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border post, ordering the closure of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reducing diplomatic staff at the embassies of both countries.
Tensions further escalated in May, when missile strikes hit six towns in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children and the elderly.
Learn more: Taliban using Indian funds for cross-border terrorism against Pakistan: former Afghan army chief
In response, Pakistani armed forces shot down Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales. India then targeted several Pakistani airbases with missile strikes. In retaliation, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, damaging Indian military installations including missile storage sites, airbases and other strategic targets.
On May 10, 2025, United States President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached following intense diplomatic efforts. Minutes later, the deal was separately confirmed by Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Indian Foreign Minister.
