US EditionPakistan Again Extends Closure of Sole Runway at Rahim Yar Khan Airbase that Was Struck by India During Operation Sindoor
PUNJAB PROVINCE, PAKISTAN, JUL 17 – Pakistan has extended closure of its Rahim Yar Khan airbase runway until August 5 due to extensive damage from India's Operation Sindoor missile strike in May 2025, officials said.
- On July 18, 2025, Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority issued a NOTAM for Rahim Yar Khan, with the runway remaining closed until August 5, 2025.
- Operation Sindoor launched on May 7, 2025, after the April 22 Pahalgam attack killed 26 tourists, targeting nine terrorist infrastructure sites.
- Images captured after the strike showed extensive structural damage to hangars and apron areas with debris strewn.
- Amid cross-border attacks, Pakistan argued India’s strikes amount to a declaration of war.
- Beyond the military standoff, ARY News reported that the Pakistan Airports Authority extended the Indian aircraft ban until August 23, 2025, raising fears of nuclear escalation breaching the nuclear threshold.
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Pakistan’s Rahim Yar Khan airbase India struck during Op Sindoor still not operational, Notam extended
More than two months after India struck Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Operation Sindoor, the airbase continues to be out of operations. Pakistan has issued a Notam (notice to airmen) that the airbase remains closed as the runway remains unavailable for operations because of ongoing work.
Yet to recover from Operation Sindoor damage, Pakistan's strategic airbase to remain shut for few more weeks
The Indian Air Force's precision strike the airbase during Operation Sindoor created a massive crater — nearly 19 feet across (43-foot diameter) — in the middle of its sole runway, rendering the facility unusable.
Masood Azhar's stronghold is considered to be Bahawalpur in Pakistan. He has two hideouts in Bahawalpur. During Operation Sindoor, India had attacked Jaish-e-Mohammed's headquarters in Bahawalpur and a madrasa of Jaish in Bahawalpur.
Pakistan again extends closure of sole runway at Rahim Yar Khan airbase that was struck by India during Operation Sindoor
Rahim Yar Khan, which is in the southern part of Pakistan’s Punjab province and faces the Rajasthan frontier, has a dual-purpose airport — it is home to a forward operational base of the Pakistan Air Force Central Air Command and the Sheikh Zayed International Airport.
In May, the two Asian enemies, who claim the territory of Kashmir, clashed with each other, undermining the rule of deterrence.
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