New Delhi: India has deployed advanced jamming systems along its western border to disrupt the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals used by Pakistani military aircraft, significantly degrading their navigation and strike capabilities.
The Indian jamming systems are capable of interfering with multiple satellite-based navigation platforms, including GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), and Beidou (China) – all of which are used by Pakistani military craft, sources further said. The move comes amid rising tensions between the two countries after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in which 26 people died.
Days later, India issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) restricting its airspace, effective from April 30 to May 23, to all aircraft registered, operated, or leased by Pakistan – including commercial airlines and military flights. The NOTAM was issued shortly after Pakistani carriers had already started rerouting to avoid Indian airspace due to concerns over potential Indian retaliation, officials said.
With the restriction now formalised, Pakistani airlines will be forced to take longer and costlier routes over Chinese or Sri Lankan airspace to access Southeast Asian cities such as Kuala Lumpur. The airspace closure is part of a series of retaliatory measures taken by India in the wake of the Pahalgam attack. India had earlier suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and revoked visas of Pakistani nationals.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national carrier with a fleet of 32 aircraft, is expected to be particularly affected. Many of Pakistan’s flights to Southeast Asia and the Far East will now be extended by one to two hours. These detours will require more fuel, increase crew duty hours, and potentially force rescheduling or frequency cuts.