India Closes Airspace to Pakistan-Operated Flights After Pahalgam Terror Attack
In a retaliatory move after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, India has shut its airspace to all Pakistani-operated flights, including commercial and military aircraft, from April 30 to May 23.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting Indian airspace access to aircraft registered, operated, or leased by Pakistan. The move comes after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed in a terror assault on tourists.
The ban affects all Pakistani civil and defence aviation traffic, forcing rerouting of flights bound for Southeast Asia through longer paths via China or Sri Lanka. Officials noted that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and other carriers had already begun avoiding Indian airspace out of fear of Indian retaliation.
The ban mirrors Pakistan’s earlier restrictions on Indian flights following the Pahalgam incident. A Pakistani aviation source said their airspace closure was aimed at ensuring “national security preparedness,” though it had not been formally announced until Indian action.
India’s airspace ban is one in a series of strong retaliatory steps against Islamabad. New Delhi has already suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, closed the Attari-Wagah Integrated Check Post, and revoked all visas issued to Pakistani citizens.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also canceled travel privileges under the SAARC visa exemption scheme and ordered all Pakistani nationals currently in India with valid documents to exit by the end of the week.
The April 22 attack in Baisaran meadow, a tourist hotspot in Pahalgam, has intensified diplomatic hostility between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to “pursue the attackers and their backers to the ends of the earth,” suggesting India may consider further diplomatic or military responses.
No terror group has officially claimed responsibility yet, but Indian intelligence suspects involvement of Pakistan-based operatives.
With tensions continuing to rise, the closure of Indian airspace marks a significant escalation. Analysts warn of economic impacts on aviation and trade, while diplomats urge restraint. There is growing international pressure for both countries to de-escalate, especially from the United States, which has engaged both sides in recent days.
