Both India and Pakistan have now blocked each other’s airlines over their airspace till 11:59 pm UTC on May 23 (5:29 am IST on May 24).
India Closes Airspace news to Pakistan airlines after Pahalgam terror attack, latest news: In a sharp escalation of diplomatic tensions following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, India has closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines until May 23, 2025. The move is seen as part of a series of strong retaliatory steps taken by New Delhi after 26 people were killed and several others injured in the attack, which was claimed by The Resistance Front, a proxy group linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The decision affects all Pakistan owned and operated by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), particularly those connecting cities like Islamabad and Lahore to southeast Asia and Oceania. PIA now faces longer flight durations and increased operational costs as its aircraft will be forced to reroute.
This development follows Pakistan’s earlier decision to ban Indian airlines from its airspace, signaling a tit-for-tat standoff that has heightened regional tensions.
Both India and Pakistan have now blocked each other’s airlines over their airspace till 11:59 pm UTC on May 23 (5:29 am IST on May 24).
"Indian airspace not available to Pakistan registered aircraft and aircraft operated or leased by Pakistan airlines. These include military flight," India released a notice to Air Missions.
India has also suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, a significant diplomatic agreement signed in 1960, and expelled several Pakistani diplomats.
Adding to the strain, cross-border small-scale firing or confrontations have reportedly intensified along the Line of Control (LoC), further aggravating the situation between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Meanwhile, international voices have called for de-escalation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held separate phone conversations with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. While expressing condolences for the victims of the Pahalgam attack, Rubio urged Pakistan to strongly condemn the incident and cooperate in the investigation. He reiterated Washington's support for counter-terrorism efforts and stressed the importance of regional peace and stability.
As tensions rise, observers warn that continued escalation could have far-reaching consequences for peace in South Asia, urging both nations to return to the dialogue table.
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