New Delhi: India has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) reserving airspace in the southern sector of the India-Pakistan border for a scheduled Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise from March 5 to March 12. The temporary airspace restriction is part of a planned military drill, according to official aviation notifications.

NOTAMs are routinely issued ahead of air force exercises to ensure civilian aircraft avoid designated operational zones and maintain flight safety. However, the latest reservation near the Rajasthan-Sindh sector has reportedly drawn attention across the border, reported CNN-News18.

Security sources indicated that the development has prompted increased monitoring by Pakistan’s defence establishment. Islamabad is currently managing border deployments along Afghanistan and Iran, while also maintaining naval vigilance in the Arabian Sea amid ongoing regional instability.

According to a senior security source familiar with regional deployments, Pakistan’s military resources are already under operational pressure due to simultaneous commitments across its western borders and maritime areas. The Indian airspace reservation has reportedly led to additional redeployment of Pakistani air and ground assets to observe the IAF drill beginning March 5.

The southern stretch of the India-Pakistan border, particularly near Rajasthan and Sindh, has historically been a zone for military exercises by both countries, especially during periods of elevated tensions.

Strategic signalling through airspace reservations and military drills has become more frequent in recent years. Since Operation Sindoor, both sides have regularly issued NOTAMs to temporarily cordon off airspace for training and operational preparedness exercises.

The March 5–12 air force drill also comes amid broader geopolitical instability in West Asia, where ongoing hostilities have disrupted commercial air traffic and increased military readiness levels across multiple countries.

While Indian authorities have described the NOTAM as part of a scheduled exercise, regional observers say such moves are closely watched by neighbouring countries given the sensitive security environment.