India has extended the ban on Pakistani aircraft from flying through its airspace until August 23, 2025. This decision was announced by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He said a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) has been issued to continue the ban officially. This move, he added, is based on strategic and security concerns. It reflects India’s ongoing careful approach toward national security and regional tensions.

This decision comes after Pakistan had also extended a similar ban on Indian airline flights from using its airspace. According to the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), that ban will remain in place until August 24, 2025, at 5:19 am (India time). These restrictions affect the routes of commercial flights, which may now have to take longer paths to avoid each other’s airspace, leading to longer travel times and higher fuel costs.

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is preparing for a major military exercise along the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan. This exercise will take place from July 23 to July 25, covering areas from Barmer to Jodhpur. A separate NOTAM has been issued for this IAF activity to inform pilots and airlines about possible restricted zones and flying conditions during the operation. These developments highlight the ongoing tensions between the two neighbouring countries and the focus on maintaining national defence readiness.

The region has recently seen Pakistani drones and missiles entering Indian airspace during Operation Sindoor. Pakistan carried out drone attacks targeting parts of Rajasthan, including Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, and Sri Ganganagar. In response, India issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), which is a warning to stop civilian flights from using certain parts of the sky. This is done to keep passengers safe and make sure no one gets caught in the middle of military activity.

Similar safety notices have been given in the past when tensions with Pakistan were high. These measures are meant to avoid any civilian casualties by keeping commercial planes away from risky zones. The latest NOTAM was issued after India began ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7. This operation was India’s response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 innocent people.