India and Pakistan have extended mutual airspace bans in a growing diplomatic standoff sparked by rising tensions in Kashmir and a deadly attack on Indian security forces in Pahalgam last month. The moves reflect a deepening of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, whose relations remain mired in historic enmity and unresolved territorial disputes.
On Friday, Pakistan’s Airports Authority (PAA) issued a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) extending its ban on Indian aircraft until 4:59 AM on June 24, 2025. The restrictions apply to all Indian-registered, operated, owned, or leased aircraft — including military flights — across all altitudes. Only international carriers unaffiliated with India will be exempt from the ban.
India’s Civil Aviation Ministry responded with its own NOTAM, barring Pakistani-registered or operated aircraft — also including military flights — from its airspace through June 23.
The tit-for-tat bans were first imposed in late April, following a sharp escalation in tensions after a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in India-administered Kashmir. The ambush, which left several Indian paramilitary personnel dead, was blamed by New Delhi on Pakistan-based militant groups. The attack reignited hostilities and triggered a series of retaliatory actions, including the closure of airspace.
In response to the Pahalgam attack and what it called “aggressive provocations,” Pakistan on April 24 barred all India-owned and operated aircraft from its airspace. India quickly retaliated with corresponding restrictions on Pakistani air traffic.
The current standoff is a continuation of a long and bitter rivalry dating back to the 1947 partition, with three full-scale wars fought between India and Pakistan, two over the Kashmir region. The contested Himalayan territory remains a flashpoint, with frequent skirmishes along the Line of Control (LoC) and recurring accusations of cross-border terrorism.
Airspace closures have been used in the past as tools of diplomatic pressure and retaliation. Following the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian aircraft for nearly five months, causing significant disruptions and economic losses.
The latest restrictions, though limited in scope to each other’s carriers, are widely viewed as symbolic of deteriorating ties and come at a time when tensions are particularly high in the Kashmir Valley.
While international airlines remain unaffected by the bans, aviation analysts warn that prolonged restrictions could impact regional air traffic and escalate into broader disruptions if either side widens the scope of the closures.
Security experts also caution that the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent response by both governments risk further destabilizing the fragile peace in Kashmir. The attack has been condemned by several foreign governments, with calls for both countries to exercise restraint and reengage in dialogue.
So far, there has been no indication of immediate diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Islamabad. Both sides remain entrenched in nationalist rhetoric, with domestic political pressures and historical grievances complicating efforts at de-escalation.
