Pakistan extends airspace closure for Indian aircraft till August 24

Pakistan extended the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft until August 24, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said on Saturday.

The PAA issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) extending the ban on Indian aircraft, under which they would not be permitted to use Pakistani airspace.

The authority noted that the ban applied to Indian-registered, operated, owned, and leased aircraft, with the restriction on the use of Pakistani airspace by Indian military and civilian aircraft remaining in force.

Earlier, the PAA extended the restriction on Indian aircraft using its airspace until June 24, and before that, until May 24, April 24, and until March 23.

Pakistan has kept its airspace closed to Indian aircraft since April 2025, when tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi sharply escalated after an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

The attack killed 26 people, India immediately blaming Pakistan for the incident. Pakistan, however, categorically rejected the blame and offered to support a neutral investigation.

Read: One year on, India 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, it suspended the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reducing diplomatic staff at each other's embassies.

Tensions further escalated in May, when missile strikes hit six cities in Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), destroying a mosque and killing dozens of civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.

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In response, Pakistan’s armed forces shot down Indian warplanes, including three Rafale jets. 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 agreement was confirmed separately by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Indian foreign secretary.