KARACHI: Pakistan has decided to extend its airspace restrictions on Indian airlines until August 23, maintaining the ban for another month.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has issued a fresh Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), reaffirming the ongoing suspension of overflight permissions for aircraft registered in India.According to the NOTAM, all Indian-registered aircraft are strictly prohibited from using Pakistani airspace for any operations, including overflights and transit flights. These restrictions were initially imposed on April 23 and have been renewed repeatedly since then.
The Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority has stated that the ban remains in effect until further notice. It applies to all aircraft under Indian registration, with no exemptions granted.
Pakistan initially closed its airspace for Indian airlines as a reciprocal measure after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty amid rising bilateral tensions following the deadly attack in Pahalgam in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).Following the attack in Pahalgam, India conducted strikes on Pakistani territory, resulting in the martyrdom of several Pakistanis. Pakistan responded with its own military actions, which led to U.S. intervention and a subsequent ceasefire.
Since the ban, reports indicate that Indian airlines have incurred losses worth millions of dollars due to increased fuel costs from forced stopovers on long-haul flights.