India has officially restricted its airspace to all aircraft registered, operated, or leased by Pakistan, including commercial and military flights. The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by India will remain in effect from April 30 to May 23, 2025.
While Pakistani carriers had already begun avoiding Indian airspace—reportedly over fears of potential retaliation—this official restriction now forces them to reroute flights to Southeast Asia through longer paths over China or Sri Lanka, aviation officials said. The closure is expected to increase flight time and fuel costs for Pakistani airlines.
The decision is part of a broader set of actions taken by New Delhi in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, where terrorists opened fire on civilians, killing 26 people.
Soon after the attack, India suspended key elements of its engagement with Pakistan. These include the Indus Waters Treaty—whose revival, the government said, will depend on Pakistan ending support for cross-border terrorism. India also shut the Attari-Wagah Integrated Check Post, revoked all visas issued to Pakistani citizens, and barred travel under the SAARC visa exemption scheme.
Pakistani nationals currently in India on valid travel documents have been asked to leave by a set deadline, according to officials.
In response, Pakistan announced that it would suspend SAARC visas for Indian nationals, close the Wagah border, and bar Indian carriers from using its airspace. Islamabad also said it would freeze all bilateral agreements with India unless New Delhi “adheres to international law and UN resolutions on Kashmir,” invoking the Simla Agreement.
Following a meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Islamabad described India’s steps as “unilateral, unjust, politically motivated, and devoid of legal merit.”
