Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace until September 23, further escalating the ongoing standoff with India. The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a fresh Notice to Airmen confirming the extension, which will apply to all Indian aircraft, both civilian and military, as well as those leased or owned by Indian carriers. This extension marks another chapter in the tit-for-tat measures that have defined the strained relationship between the two neighboring countries over the past several months.
The ban was first imposed on April 23, just one day after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that left 26 people dead. Initially announced as a one-month closure, the restriction was seen as a strong retaliatory step by Islamabad in response to India’s policies in the region. On April 30, India issued a reciprocal measure, blocking Pakistani aircraft from entering its own airspace. What followed was a series of mutual extensions, each aimed at applying pressure but also inflicting significant economic costs on both sides.
The airspace ban was first extended on May 23, and again in July, with Pakistan pushing the closure to August 24. The latest extension now takes the restriction into late September, meaning months of disrupted air routes and financial losses. Reports indicate that on a daily basis, around 100 to 150 Indian aircraft used to fly over Pakistan before the ban, accounting for nearly 20 percent of transit traffic. The closure has disrupted these routes and rerouted flights through longer paths, adding time and costs to both airlines and passengers.
Financially, the move has come at a steep cost for Pakistan itself. Earlier this month, the country’s Ministry of Defence acknowledged that the Pakistan Airports Authority had suffered losses of PKR 4.1 billion between April 24 and June 30 due to the decline in overflying revenue. These figures, while lower than initially estimated, underscore the economic pain resulting from the closure. Pakistan had earlier boasted about the decision as a demonstration of strength against India, but the financial strain has highlighted the burden of prolonged restrictions.
The ban is also tied to wider disputes between the two countries, including India’s decision to suspend its obligations under the Indus Water Treaty. Islamabad saw this as a provocation and escalated the row further by closing its skies to Indian traffic. The loss of revenue, however, has been undeniable. Pakistan experienced a similar situation in 2019 when another airspace closure lasted for several months, costing the country an estimated Rs7.6 billion, or approximately $54 million, in lost revenue.
Despite these heavy costs, the political messaging behind the ban appears to outweigh economic considerations for both nations. For Pakistan, the closure represents a stance of resistance against India’s policies in Kashmir and beyond. For India, the reciprocal measures symbolize a refusal to concede or appear weakened in the face of Pakistan’s decisions. This cycle of retaliatory moves underscores the fragile state of bilateral relations, where even the skies have become contested ground in a broader diplomatic confrontation.
For airlines and passengers, the impact has been immediate and disruptive. The loss of Pakistan’s airspace as a corridor has forced many flights to adopt longer and less efficient routes, adding both travel time and operational expenses. Carriers are often forced to burn more fuel, reschedule flights, and manage passenger dissatisfaction, turning what was once a straightforward route into a logistical challenge.
The diplomatic fallout of the closure is equally significant. Each extension signals not only the continuation of hostility but also the difficulty in finding any pathway toward de-escalation. Both governments have entrenched themselves in their positions, using airspace as yet another tool in the long history of rivalry. The situation has also raised concerns among international observers about the long-term implications of using aviation routes as instruments of political strategy, especially in a region where tensions frequently threaten to spill over.
As the ban continues into late September, it remains to be seen whether either side will take steps toward easing the restrictions or whether further extensions will follow. The financial losses, mounting disruptions, and broader diplomatic strain illustrate the high costs of the unresolved tensions between India and Pakistan. Until a breakthrough emerges, the skies above South Asia will remain closed, not only to planes but also to the possibility of reconciliation.
