PAHALGAM’S DIPLOMATIC AFTERSHOCKS KEEP INDIAN PLANES OUT AS PAKISTAN RENEWS AIRSPACE BAN

October 18, 2026

ISLAMABAD, OCTOBER 18: Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace by another month, signalling the persistence of tensions between the two neighbouring countries following the Pahalgam terror attack.

The extension continues restrictions that have disrupted normal aviation access between India and Pakistan. Indian airlines and aircraft remain barred from using Pakistani airspace under the measure, which has implications for flight routing and operational planning.

The restrictions form part of the wider deterioration in bilateral relations after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people and triggered a series of retaliatory measures between New Delhi and Islamabad.

The continued airspace closure underscores how the fallout from the attack has extended beyond security and diplomatic relations into civilian aviation. Restrictions on air routes can force airlines to take longer journeys, potentially increasing fuel consumption, operating costs and travel times on affected services.

The latest extension indicates that an immediate return to normal aviation arrangements remains uncertain, as the broader relationship between the two countries continues to be shaped by the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.