Pakistan
Risk Level: Two - Danger exists
[ about risk levels ]
Oct 2026: The OPKR/Karachi FIR and OPLR/Lahore FIR remain open to international traffic, but Indian-registered aircraft and Indian operators are still barred. The ceasefire between India and Pakistan has largely held since May 2025, but the situation remains fragile and military activity could resume with little warning. Separately, tensions along the Afghanistan border have risen again.
See OPSGROUP Briefing: Pakistan/India Airspace Update - 2025
The primary risk is militant activity and anti-aircraft weapons, including missiles that can be fired from the ground, especially at lower altitudes in western Pakistan. In Kashmir, renewed fighting between India and Pakistan could put aircraft at risk of being mistaken for military targets. EASA advises against flights below FL260 over Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. France, Germany and Italy also advise caution at lower altitudes in the OPKR/Karachi FIR and OPLR/Lahore FIR.
Major events:
Oct 2026: Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces renewed cross-border fighting.
Feb 2026: Cross-border strikes between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated, but no new airspace closures or overflight bans were issued. Commercial traffic continued through the OAKX/Kabul FIR, including on routes P500 and G500.
May 2025: India and Pakistan exchanged strikes and shelling in Kashmir. A ceasefire followed, but both countries continue to bar each other’s aircraft.
Jan 2024: Iran carried out missile and drone strikes against a militant group in western Pakistan.
Dec 2023 - ongoing: Pilots reported GPS spoofing around the OPLR/Lahore FIR, particularly near OPLA/Lahore.
Feb-Aug 2019: Pakistan closed its airspace to overflights after major clashes with India.
See OPSGROUP Briefing: Pakistan/India Airspace Update - 2025
The primary risk is militant activity and anti-aircraft weapons, including missiles that can be fired from the ground, especially at lower altitudes in western Pakistan. In Kashmir, renewed fighting between India and Pakistan could put aircraft at risk of being mistaken for military targets. EASA advises against flights below FL260 over Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. France, Germany and Italy also advise caution at lower altitudes in the OPKR/Karachi FIR and OPLR/Lahore FIR.
Major events:
Oct 2026: Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces renewed cross-border fighting.
Feb 2026: Cross-border strikes between Pakistan and Afghanistan escalated, but no new airspace closures or overflight bans were issued. Commercial traffic continued through the OAKX/Kabul FIR, including on routes P500 and G500.
May 2025: India and Pakistan exchanged strikes and shelling in Kashmir. A ceasefire followed, but both countries continue to bar each other’s aircraft.
Jan 2024: Iran carried out missile and drone strikes against a militant group in western Pakistan.
Dec 2023 - ongoing: Pilots reported GPS spoofing around the OPLR/Lahore FIR, particularly near OPLA/Lahore.
Feb-Aug 2019: Pakistan closed its airspace to overflights after major clashes with India.
Current warnings list :
| Source | Reference | Issued | Valid to | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | Notam LIRR E2224/26 | 01 Sep 2026 | 29 Nov 2026 | |
| Germany | AIC 03/26 | 29 Oct 2020 | Ongoing | |
| France | AIC 011/26 | 09 Apr 2020 | Ongoing | |
| EASA | CZIB 2018-02 R21 | 10 Jan 2018 | 31 Jan 2027 |
Source: Italy
Reference: Notam LIRR E2224/26
Issued: 01-Sep-26, valid until: 29 Nov 2026
Plain English: Italian operators should avoid the airspace of Pakistan below 25000 ft AGL.
ITALIAN AIR CARRIERS AND CAPTAINS OF AIRCRAFT IN CHARGE OF AIR SERVICES OPERATED BY CARRIERS HOLDING AN OPERATING LICENSE ISSUED BY ITALY, WHETHER THEY ARE CONTRACTUAL CARRIERS AND/OR OPERATING CARRIERS, OR PERFORMING AIR SERVICES THROUGH A WET LEASE OR A CODESHARE AGREEMENT AS WELL AS FOR ANY FLIGHT MADE WITH AN AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN ITALY WHEN PLANNING FLIGHT OPERATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED TO AVOID LAHORE FIR (OPLR) AND KARACHI FIR (OPKR) BELOW HEIGHT 25000FT AGL MONITORING EASA SAFETY DIRECTIVES.
Source: Germany
Reference: AIC 03/26
Issued: 29-Oct-20, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: Caution to German operators below FL260 in the airspace of Pakistan due to potential risks from anti-aviation weaponry.
Level 1 (Lowest risk).
SECURITY - HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN PAKISTAN
Civil German air operators are advised to take potential risk into account in their risk assessment and routing decisions within FIR KARACHI (OPKR) and FIR LAHORE (OPLR) below FL260. Potential risk from anti-aviation weaponry and possible terrorist attacks at all airports.
SECURITY - HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN PAKISTAN
Civil German air operators are advised to take potential risk into account in their risk assessment and routing decisions within FIR KARACHI (OPKR) and FIR LAHORE (OPLR) below FL260. Potential risk from anti-aviation weaponry and possible terrorist attacks at all airports.
Source: France
Reference: AIC 011/26
Issued: 09-Apr-20, valid until: Ongoing
Plain English: French operators overflying Pakistan airspace should be at FL260 or above.
From 09/04/2020 and until further notice, pilots in command of aircraft performing air services mentioned in paragraph 1.1 are requested to maintain at all times a flight level above or equal to FL260 in the airspace of Pakistan (OPLR FIR (LAHORE) and OPKR FIR (KARACHI)).
Source: EASA
Reference: CZIB 2018-02 R21
Issued: 10-Jan-18, valid until: 31 Jan 2027
Plain English: Operators should not enter the Baluchistan province (southwestern part of Pakistan) or the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (northwestern part of Pakistan) below FL260.
Due to the current security situation in Pakistan with the presence of violent non-state actor groups (VNSAs), operating in particular in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, with confirmed availability of anti-aviation weaponry and man-portable air-defence systems (MANPADS), there is a potential threat to civil aviation and a risk of misidentification resulting in a HIGH risk to operations at altitudes below FL 260 in the affected airspace. Although the main VNSA groups remain focused on targeting Pakistani security forces, such attacks might result in inadvertent risks to civil aviation.
Recurrent cross-border military activities along the border with Afghanistan also pose a risk to civil aviation, particularly in airspace adjacent to the border areas. Such activities may involve the use of military aircraft and air defence systems, increasing the risk of misidentification or miscalculation.
Additionally, the territorial dispute in the Kashmir region, with sporadic military operations, poses a potential risk of misidentification in case of military escalation, particularly in the FIR Lahore (OPLR).
EASA recommends air operators not to conduct flights in the airspace of Pakistan, FIR Karachi (OPKR) and FIR Lahore (OPLR), over Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces below FL 260.
Recurrent cross-border military activities along the border with Afghanistan also pose a risk to civil aviation, particularly in airspace adjacent to the border areas. Such activities may involve the use of military aircraft and air defence systems, increasing the risk of misidentification or miscalculation.
Additionally, the territorial dispute in the Kashmir region, with sporadic military operations, poses a potential risk of misidentification in case of military escalation, particularly in the FIR Lahore (OPLR).
EASA recommends air operators not to conduct flights in the airspace of Pakistan, FIR Karachi (OPKR) and FIR Lahore (OPLR), over Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces below FL 260.