Pakistan issues airspace curbs as India prepares for Trishul tri-services drill near Sir Creek

Pakistan has issued a notice restricting several air traffic routes over its central and southern regions just days before India’s tri-services exercise, Trishul, begins along the border.

Islamabad has not provided a reason for the Notam (Notice to Airmen) issued for October 28–29, though analysts cited by India Today suggest it may be related to a military drill or a possible weapons test.

The move follows India’s own Notam for Exercise Trishul, a large-scale Army, Navy, and Air Force operation to be conducted near Sir Creek from October 30 to November 10. Such parallel notifications have become routine since Operation Sindoor, with both nations often closing airspace during major military activities.

Satellite images shared by defence analyst Damien Symon show the airspace reserved for Trishul extends up to 28,000 feet — an “unusual” scale for such an exercise. The Defence Ministry said the drill will demonstrate the joint operational capabilities, atmanirbharta (self-reliance), and innovation of India’s armed forces.

“Troops from Southern Command will actively participate to validate joint operations across diverse and challenging terrains, including offensive manoeuvres in the creek and desert sectors, amphibious operations off the Saurashtra coast, and joint multi-domain exercises,” the ministry stated.

While India has termed the drill a routine preparedness measure, Pakistan’s airspace restrictions suggest close monitoring of border movements following Operation Sindoor, when Indian forces destroyed nine terror camps and struck 11 military and air bases in response to the Pahalgam attack.

The exercise’s location near the Sir Creek–Sindh–Karachi axis adds strategic weight, coming days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh warned Islamabad against any “misadventure” in the area.

“If Pakistan dares to act in the Sir Creek sector, the reply will be so strong that it will change both history and geography,” Singh said while addressing troops at the IAF base in Bhuj on Dussehra.

Sir Creek, a 96-km marshy estuary between Gujarat and Sindh, holds major strategic value due to its access to key sea routes. Intelligence inputs indicate Pakistan has recently ramped up military infrastructure in the region — making India’s large-scale Trishul exercise all the more significant.