Pakistan Extends Indian Airspace Ban to May 2026

Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian-registered aircraft using its airspace for another month, pushing the restriction until May 24, 2026, nearly a year after the measure was first imposed amid heightened bilateral tensions. The latest Notice to Airmen, issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority, prohibits all Indian-operated, owned, or leased commercial and military flights from transiting Pakistani airspace, effective from April 21 until 2359 hours UTC on May 23.

The closure, which began on April 24, 2025, stems from a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22 of that year that killed 26 people, primarily tourists. In response, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty the following day and barred Pakistani aircraft from its airspace starting April 30, 2025. Both nations have since renewed these reciprocal restrictions on a monthly basis, turning the airspace closures into a prolonged standoff. Indian officials have indicated that their ban, currently set to expire on April 24, 2026, is likely to be extended further.

The measures echo previous escalations, including airspace shutdowns during the 1999 Kargil conflict and the 2019 Pulwama attack. While...