The Pakistan Airports Authority has announced an extension of the ban on Indian aircraft from using Pakistani airspace. The restriction will now remain in place until 4:59 AM on June 24, 2025.
Tensions further escalated between South Asian neighbors following a recent bombing of a school bus in Pakistan, which resulted in the deaths of four children. Pakistani authorities have attributed the attack to India, a claim that Indian officials have categorically denied.
According to the Authority, the ban applies to all aircraft that are registered, operated, owned, or leased by India. This includes Indian military aircraft as well.
The statement also makes it clear that no flight operated by Indian airlines or Indian aviation operators will be allowed to enter or pass through Pakistani airspace during this period.
No official explanation was given for the extension of the restrictions, though such measures are typically influenced by diplomatic tensions or security considerations between the two nations.
The initial restrictions were introduced on April 24, just two days after a deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 individuals. India promptly held Pakistan responsible for the incident, a claim Islamabad firmly rejected. In the aftermath, New Delhi downgraded diplomatic relations, suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals, and closed key border crossings.
In retaliation, Pakistan implemented its own set of countermeasures, including the closure of its airspace to Indian aircraft—both commercial and military.
