India has suspended the use of its airspace for all aircraft registered in or operated by Pakistan, including military flights.
The decision, communicated via a formal Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, came into effect on April 30 and will remain in place until at least May 23. This move marks a severe deterioration in bilateral ties and underscores the mounting concerns over cross-border terrorism and regional security. The airspace closure is one of several strong diplomatic and strategic responses initiated by India following the April 22 attack, in which 26 people lost their lives. The government has asserted that there is credible evidence pointing to cross-border links, with official briefings suggesting that the terror strike was timed to destabilise the democratic process and development trajectory in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack followed closely on the heels of the successful conduct of elections in the region—an event hailed as a step towards restoring normalcy, governance, and inclusive economic progress.
Indian security forces have since intensified counter-terror operations across the Kashmir Valley, operating under what has been described as “complete operational freedom” granted by the government. Defence officials have confirmed that there has been a marked uptick in ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), to which the Indian Army has responded with calibrated and robust military measures. Within this volatile context, India’s decision to shut its airspace to Pakistani carriers reflects both an operational necessity and a broader strategic posture. While Pakistan had earlier taken a similar step by closing its airspace to Indian airlines, India’s move effectively seals reciprocal overflight routes, impacting regional aviation corridors. The consequence of this restriction is expected to reverberate across commercial aviation, raising fuel costs and extending travel times for international flights that typically utilise South Asian airways.
Beyond aviation, India has deployed a suite of diplomatic and economic countermeasures. These include the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty’s review processes—a long-standing water-sharing agreement—and the closure of the Integrated Check Post at Attari, a key land route for trade and transit between the two countries. The Ministry of External Affairs has also moved to reduce the strength of the High Commissions in both nations, further straining already fragile diplomatic channels. A senior official with knowledge of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) deliberations noted that the broader objective of these measures is to impose a cost on Pakistan for what India describes as continued support for cross-border terror outfits. According to internal assessments presented to the CCS, the timing and target of the Pahalgam attack were designed to derail grassroots democratic participation and sow instability in a region striving towards recovery and reintegration with the broader national economy.
Policy analysts emphasise that these steps reflect a shift in India’s national security strategy—one that aligns with the country’s zero-tolerance stance towards terrorism and is increasingly integrated with broader goals of regional development and national sustainability. The security of transport and infrastructure, particularly in sensitive zones such as Kashmir, is increasingly seen as critical to the vision of equitable urbanisation and decentralised economic growth. While officials have maintained that these are defensive, not escalatory, actions, the regional impact remains substantial. Flight operators in both countries are now forced to reroute aircraft, leading to longer flight durations and higher carbon emissions due to increased fuel consumption—a development at odds with global goals for carbon neutrality in aviation. Analysts have pointed out that these geopolitical tensions highlight the urgent need for more sustainable and secure regional connectivity frameworks that can withstand political shocks without compromising environmental commitments.
From a broader governance perspective, India’s handling of the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack reflects a policy convergence across national security, diplomacy, and sustainable development. Stakeholders in the civil aviation and infrastructure sectors have voiced support for the government’s firm response, even as they call for a renewed focus on climate-conscious policies and contingency planning to mitigate the fallout of such disruptions. Despite the ongoing tension, official sources have suggested that all decisions are being continuously reviewed and are subject to change based on ground realities and security assessments. However, with the current suspension set to last into late May, the implications for regional mobility, diplomatic dialogue, and economic engagement remain profound.
As the region grapples with this renewed security crisis, the spotlight remains on whether such measures will deter future attacks or harden entrenched positions. What is clear is that India is signalling a decisive shift in its policy toolkit—one that combines assertive military readiness with strategic economic deterrents and a long-term vision of peace anchored in development and resilience.
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