ISLAMABAD: The Indian Air Force has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)reserving airspace for a large-scale exercise near the southern sector ofthe India-Pakistan border. Scheduled from December 3 to 6, 2025, themaneuver will take place in the vicinity of Rajasthan’s Barmer and Jodhpurareas, adjacent to Pakistan’s Sindh province. This announcement hasprompted heightened vigilance among Pakistani defense officials, who viewit as a potential escalation in bilateral tensions.
The NOTAM specifies airspace restrictions from 0830 UTC on December 3 to0530 UTC on December 6, covering a polygonal area along the internationalborder. OSINT sources indicate the exercise aims to test operationalreadiness, including air combat simulations and joint force integration.While India maintains such drills are routine for maintaining combatproficiency, their proximity to the sensitive border region has raisedeyebrows in Islamabad, especially given recent diplomatic frictions overKashmir and cross-border issues.
Pakistani military analysts suggest the timing of the exercise could belinked to broader strategic posturing in South Asia. With both nationspossessing nuclear capabilities, any perceived provocation carriessignificant risks. The Pakistan Air Force is expected to monitor theactivities closely, potentially increasing patrols in the Sindh sector toensure territorial integrity. Diplomatic channels remain open, but expertsurge restraint to avoid miscalculations that could spiral into conflict.
The exercise underscores ongoing military modernization efforts by the IAF,incorporating advanced aircraft like Rafale jets and indigenous Tejasfighters. From Pakistan’s perspective, this development highlights the needfor balanced deterrence and dialogue. International observers, includingthe United Nations, have called for transparency in such militaryactivities to foster confidence-building measures between the two neighbors.
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As the dates approach, commercial aviation in the region may facedisruptions due to the reserved airspace. Airlines have been advised toreroute flights accordingly. This event adds to a series of similarexercises conducted by India in 2025, reflecting a pattern of increasedmilitary preparedness along the western frontier. Pakistan continues toadvocate for peaceful resolutions to longstanding disputes while bolsteringits own defense posture.Source: https://x.com/OsintUpdates/status/1993691895571333155