Pakistan released a notification for airmen on Saturday — restricting several air traffic routes across its central and southern airspace next week. The announcement came even as India geared up for a tri-service military exercise at the end of October. The large-scale Army, Navy, and Air Force operation drill (codenamed Exercise Trishul) will be held in Sir Creek — close to the Pakistan border in the Rann of Kutch region of Gujarat.
The 10-day exercise has reportedly sent alarm bells ringing in Islamabad — with multiple commands and bases put on high alert. According to a CNN News18 report, Pakistan has also mobilised its Air Force and Navy to remain on standby for any perceived aggression and increase patrolling in the Arabian Sea. Sources also told the publication that the Pakistani military was currently in a state of “panic” over potential contingency scenarios.
Islamabad has not given a definite reason for the closure of airspace — with India Today citing analysts to add that it could be related to a military drill or possible weapons test. India has also issued its own NOTAM update ahead of the massive exercise along the Pakistan border from October 30 to November 10.
Defence analyst Damien Symon also shared satellite images highlighting the airspace reserved for Trishul. The post noted that it extended up to 28,000 feet — adding that “the chosen area and scale of activity were unusual”. The details indicate that this will likely be one of the most significant joint operation drills conducted by India in recent years.
Pakistan losing control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
The developments come amid growing concerns that Pakistan is losing control over the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province amid its conflict with Afghanistan. A leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl narrowly escaped an assassination attempt after a bomb explosion struck a mosque in Lower South Waziristan on Friday morning.
The explosion triggered widespread panic in the locality, where residents have grown increasingly anxious about the deteriorating security conditions.
Several JUI-F leaders in the district have been targeted previously. District chief Maulana Abdullah and another local cleric, Maulana Shehzada, both sustained serious injuries in earlier attacks; one of them is still under treatment at a hospital in Multan.
In an official statement, JUI-F strongly denounced the bombing, calling it a cowardly act of terror and accusing the state of failing to protect religious figures. The party said that the rising number of attacks on scholars and clerics reflected an alarming security lapse, urging authorities to ensure their safety. Residents said Birmal tehsil and nearby regions have witnessed an upsurge in militant activity over the past year, including kidnappings, targeted killings, and assaults on security forces. Business owners say frequent explosions and gunfire have emptied markets after dusk, damaging livelihoods and deepening fear among civilians, as highlighted by Dawn.
The militant groups are re-establishing their foothold in Waziristan, while government inaction continues to embolden them. The latest attack highlights Pakistan’s growing inability to contain extremist violence in its once-restive tribal districts, as reported by Dawn.