IAF Plans Major Combat Exercises Near India-Pakistan Border; Airspace Warning Issued

India has released a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) preceding a massive Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise set along the southern part of the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan. The exercise is going to take place over the weekend, between Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8.

The exercise is part of the IAF's regular combat preparedness exercises and will be conducted in airspace near the international border. According to the NOTAM, the air activities will commence at 3:30 p.m. on June 7 and are likely to conclude at 9:30 p.m. the following day. Over this period, the associated airspace will be closed to guarantee operational effectiveness and safety.

A top Indian Air Force official said that the exercise will feature several cutting-edge air platforms. "The combat exercises will comprise a variety of advanced air assets, including frontline fighter aircraft like Rafale, Mirage 2000, and Sukhoi-30, as well as surveillance platforms and other ancillary systems," the official confirmed.

Although the Ministry of Defence has not formally associated the drill with new tensions in the region, the timing and location make significant considerations. This region has attracted strategic importance due to increased hostilities, particularly after a recent border terrorist attack on Pahalgam.

The attack, which resulted in increased security concerns, prompted reciprocal airspace closures from both India and Pakistan. India banned access into its airspace for all Pakistani military and registered Pakistani aircraft from April 30 to May 23. This act followed a previous decision by Pakistan to close its airspace to Indian aircraft, increasing diplomatic and military tensions.

At the same time, the situation continues to be tense at the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, with Pakistani troops repeatedly breaching the ceasefire.

This has led to aggressive retaliatory measures by the Indian side. Interestingly, the IAF's next rehearsal comes in the wake of India's 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, which was a retaliatory measure taken against the terror attack on Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians.