Pakistan has announced a temporary closure of its airspace to flights arriving from India on October 28 and 29, as per a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority.
The restriction will be in place from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on both days, impacting several key routes under the Lahore and Karachi Flight Information Regions (FIR).
Airlines operating through these zones have been advised to plan alternate routes and exercise operational caution during the restricted hours.
Officials said that the brief closure aims to maintain air traffic safety and support essential operational management.
Pakistan issues another NOTAM now restricting Central Air Space from 28-29 October pic.twitter.com/KXe33O6VAL
— Muhammad Hamza Chowdary (@HamzaCh27) October 27, 2025
However, analysts suggest the timing of this move may carry broader strategic implications. The decision comes just days before India’s planned “Ex Trishul” tri-services military exercise along the Sir Creek border from October 30 to November 10 — a large-scale drill that follows India’s earlier aerial losses in May 2025, when Pakistan downed seven Indian aircraft, including a Rafale fighter jet.
In response, Pakistan’s prompt issuance of the NOTAM is viewed as both a defensive precaution and a calculated message of readiness. As rhetoric intensifies, with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issuing stark warnings, regional observers fear these maneuvers could heighten already fragile border tensions.
