Operation Sindoor fallout: Pakistan’s severely damaged Rahim Yar Khan airbase still shut; airspace ban on India extended

The Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan, which was hit by Indian missiles over two months ago as part of Operation Sindoor, remains non-operational. The continued closure points to significant damage at the strategic military installation.

The Pakistan Airport Authority has issued another Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), confirming that the runway will stay closed until 5 August. The airbase, located approximately 230 km south of Bahawalpur, holds strategic importance due to its proximity to India’s Rajasthan border and is a critical element in Pakistan’s southern air defence.

The base sustained heavy damage during precision strikes by India in early May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a public address, highlighted the scale of destruction inflicted on the base. Initially, the runway was declared closed from 10 May for one week, but the closure has been extended multiple times since then.

A district commissioner in Pakistan previously confirmed that the strike created a large crater on the runway. However, the prolonged closure suggests that structural damage could be more extensive than originally reported.

The attack on Rahim Yar Khan was one element of a wider Indian offensive targeting multiple Pakistani airbases. Facilities at Chaklala, Shorkot, Chakwal, and Chunian were also targeted during the same operation. A terror training centre in Bahawalpur, also struck, has reportedly been shut down indefinitely, with reports indicating that militant leaders are seeking to relocate operations.

Pakistan extends airspace ban for Indian aircraft

Pakistan has extended its airspace ban for Indian-operated flights by another month, up to 24 August, according to the Pakistan Airports Authority. The NOTAM, which came into effect at 3:50 pm India time on Friday, prohibits all aircraft owned or leased by Indian carriers—both civilian and military—from flying through Pakistani airspace.

The Indian government had earlier closed its airspace to all Pakistani aircraft until 24 July, in response to the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Pakistan initially imposed its airspace ban on Indian aircraft on 24 April, and the tit-for-tat restrictions between the two nations have been repeatedly extended since.