India and Pakistan have restricted each other’s airspace three times in 30 years

India and Pakistan have issued airspace restrictions via NOTAMs on three key occasions: during the Kargil conflict (1999), after the Balakot airstrikes (2019), and post-Pahalgam attack (2025). These strategic measures signal diplomatic and military escalation

Hyderabad: India and Pakistan have issued Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) on three occasions in the last three decades. These NOTAMs were issued restricting each other’s airspace, typically during periods of heightened tension.

Here are the three instances:

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1. May–July 1999 – Kargil Conflict Airspace Restrictions
During the Kargil conflict in 1999, India issued a NOTAM restricting the use of Indian airspace for Pakistani aircraft. This measure was part of broader military and security responses during the conflict.

2. February–July 2019 – Post-Balakot Airstrike Airspace Restrictions
In the aftermath of India’s surgical airstrike in Balakot after the Pulwama terror attack, Pakistan issued a NOTAM on February 27, 2019, closing its airspace to all Indian aircraft. This closure lasted approximately 140 days, with full reopening on July 16, 2019. India, in turn, imposed restrictions on Pakistani flights, particularly over Jammu and Kashmir, though it did not implement a nationwide airspace closure.

3. April 2025 – Pahalgam Attack and Reciprocal Airspace Closures
Following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals, India issued a NOTAM on April 30, 2025, closing its airspace to all Pakistani-registered, operated, or leased aircraft, both civilian and military, effective until May 23, 2025. This action was in direct response to Pakistan’s earlier closure of its airspace to Indian carriers on April 24, 2025.

These instances reflect the use of airspace restrictions as a strategic tool during periods of conflict or heightened tensions between India and Pakistan