Indian Military Strike Forces Closure of Key Airbase In Pakistan’s Punjab, NOTAM Confirms Runway Shutdown: Report

The sole runway at Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Pakistan’s Punjab has been declared as non-operational for a week after India's military strike, Indian Express reported, citing Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) issued by Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA).

The NOTAM reportedly took effect at at 4 pm Pakistan time (4.30 pm IST) on 10 May and will remain in force until at least 4.59 am Pakistan time (5:29 IST) on 18 May.

The Rahim Yar Khan airbase, which also houses the Sheikh Zayed International airport, features a single bitumen-surfaced runway—Runway 01/19—measuring 3,000 metres (9,843 feet), according to Flightradar24 data cited in IE report.

The NOTAM advisory cited “work in progress” as the reason for the runway shutdown, without offering further details, and said that it will not be available for flight operations.

The timing and nature of the closure reinforce reports suggesting that India’s missile strike directly damaged the runway, necessitating significant repair efforts at this key southern Punjab air facility.

“RWY NOT AVBL FOR FLT OPERATION WIP.,” the NOTAM was quoted as saying by IE.

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), use of the code ‘WIP’ in a NOTAM refers to work in progress, IE reported.

The US FAA also defines ‘WIP’ as any work being done on the airport surface.

Since the notice refers specifically to the runway, the work in progress is understood to be focused on the runway itself.

Rahim Yar Khan was among several high-value Pakistani military targets struck by India during a four-day military exchange that ended with a ceasefire understanding on Saturday (10 May) evening.

On Saturday, India used air-launched precision weapons from fighter jets to hit 11 military targets in Pakistan, including Rahim Yar Khan, Rafiki, Murid, Chaklala, Sukkur, and Juniya.

India’s counter-offensive came after Pakistan attempted multiple airspace incursions, all of which were foiled by Indian armed forces.

Tensions escalated into the most intense India-Pakistan conflict in years after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ early Wednesday (7 May), targeting nine terror infrastructure sites across Pakistan and PoJK.

India’s operations were a direct response to the 22 April massacre in Pahalgam, where 26 people—mostly tourists—were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists.

After Wednesday’s strikes, Pakistan escalated the situation with missile and drone assaults across the LoC and international border, prompting India to intercept these and launch targeted strikes on various Pakistani military positions.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor Struck Deep — Rajnath Singh Says Impact Was Felt Even In Rawalpindi