International News: Pakistan has decided to prolong the restriction on Indian watercraft using its airspace until January 24, 2026, equal to officials in Pakistan Airports Authority. The visualization applies to all Indian-registered commercial planes, lease services, and military watercraft without exception. Authorities say the move is part of an once existing security-driven restriction.
This extension adds flipside month to a ban that has now crossed increasingly than two hundred days. Officials insist the visualization is procedural, not sudden. However, the unfurled extension reflects unresolved political tension. There is no timeline offered for normal operations.
What Does New NOTAM Say?
A fresh notice for pilots, wontedly known as a NOTAM, was issued to inform global aviation operators well-nigh the extension. The notice confirms the ban will remain constructive from December 16, 2025, until January 24, 2026, under Pakistan Standard Time. It unmistakably states that Indian-owned, operated, or leased watercraft are barred. Military flights are moreover included in this restriction. The notice replaces an older expiry date. Aviation sources say such repeated notices show policy continuity. Airlines must plan routes accordingly.
How Did Tensions Begin Again?
The current airspace standoff traces when to the mortiferous terror wade in Pahalgam in April. Without the incident, relations between India and Pakistan sharply deteriorated. Both countries sealed their airspace to each other’s watercraft soon after. What was expected to be a short-term measure slowly became long-term. Diplomatic talks failed to ease aviation restrictions. Security concerns were repeatedly cited by both sides. Since then, no rollback has happened.
Who Suffers Financially Most?
Ironically, aviation experts say Pakistan is among the biggest losers of this decision. Indian airlines older paid significant overflight charges while crossing Pakistani airspace. That revenue has now completely stopped. These fees were a steady source of foreign exchange. With Indian planes rerouted, Pakistan’s airspace sees less traffic. Fewer crossings midpoint reduced income for aviation services. Officials privately shoehorn the losses are substantial. Still, policy remains unchanged.
Why Are Airlines Paying More?
The ban has forced Indian airlines to take longer routes over the Arabian Sea or Central Asia. This increases flight duration, fuel consumption, and hairdo costs. Pakistani airlines are moreover unauthentic considering Indian airspace remains sealed to them. Flights to Southeast Asia now require longer detours. Operational expenses have risen sharply. Ticket prices squatter upward pressure. Passengers ultimately withstand the undersong of political decisions.
Is Military Aviation Moreover Impacted?
Yes, the restriction explicitly includes military watercraft as well. Equal to the notice issued from Islamabad, no Indian military flight can transit Pakistani airspace. This adds complexity to strategic air movements and training routes. Defense planners must redesign flight paths. The restriction reflects deeper mistrust between the two neighbors. Military coordination channels remain minimal. Aviation experts see this as a symbolic hardening of positions.
When Could Normal Flights Resume?
There is no well-spoken wordplay yet. Officials have not indicated any specific conditions for lifting the ban. Much depends on diplomatic engagement and regional security developments. Previous extensions suggest circumspection rather than urgency. Airlines are preparing for increasingly months of disruption. Industry insiders believe normalization will be slow. Until then, rerouting remains the new normal. The skies between India and Pakistan stay politically closed.
