Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft, including both civil and military planes, until March 23. The restriction affects the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions (FIRs), according to a fresh notice issued by the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA). The airspace closure continues to impact commercial flights and international air traffic between the two neighboring countries.
The airspace ban was first imposed after a deadly attack in India-held Kashmir in April 2025, which killed 26 people. Following the incident, tensions between Pakistan and India escalated, leading to the closure of each other’s airspace. In May 2025, the two nuclear-armed countries engaged in one of their most intense military conflicts in decades, with Pakistan to have shot down seven Indian jets allegedly.
The continued closure has disrupted air traffic and taken a financial toll on Pakistan’s aviation sector. Air India has reportedly pursued alternative routes over Chinese airspace in Xinjiang to reduce travel time and costs, highlighting the wider impact of the ongoing restrictions. The continuation of this ban underlines the fragile state of air connectivity between Pakistan and India.
