Pakistan extends airspace ban on Indian aircraft till October 24
PTC Web Desk: Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace by another month, according to a fresh notice issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Wednesday.
The restriction applies to Indian-registered aircraft as well as planes owned, operated or leased by Indian airlines and operators. Military flights are also covered by the ban.
According to the latest Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), the extension took effect at 10:45 am on Wednesday and will remain in place until 4:59 am on October 24, 2026. The earlier extension was due to expire on September 24.
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The restriction covers both of Pakistan's flight information regions, or FIRs — Karachi and Lahore.
India and Pakistan introduced reciprocal airspace restrictions after the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April 2025, leading to another deterioration in relations between the two neighbours.
Notably, ties have grown especially tense since last year's Operation Sindoor, a major flashpoint that pushed relations between the two countries to one of their lowest points in recent memory. Since then, both sides have remained on edge, with periodic incidents along the border and at sea adding to the strain.
Diplomatic exchanges between New Delhi and Islamabad have often followed a familiar pattern, an incident occurs, envoys are summoned, strong statements are issued and tensions simmer without any real breakthrough. Issues involving fishermen straying across maritime borders, cross-border firing and now naval encounters have repeatedly tested the fragile peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Despite occasional attempts at dialogue over the decades, unresolved disputes, particularly over Kashmir, continue to cast a long shadow over bilateral ties. Every fresh incident, however small it may seem, tends to draw sharp reactions from both capitals, reflecting just how brittle the relationship remains.
- With inputs from agencies
