What happened?
On August 22, 2025 India issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) extending the closure of its airspace to Pakistani aircraft, including those owned, operated, or leased by Pakistani airlines, as well as military flights, until September 23. The move comes a day after Pakistan announced a similar extension of its own airspace restrictions on Indian aircraft until the same date. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol had earlier said the decision “reflects continued strategic considerations and is in line with prevailing security protocols.”
Why it matters to India
The extension highlights the persistence of heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, with aviation restrictions becoming both a symbolic and strategic tool. For India, keeping its airspace closed to Pakistani flights reinforces its stance after the Pahalgam attack and signals a no-compromise approach on cross-border terrorism. The parallel extension by Pakistan underlines the deadlock in normalising ties.