The government of Pakistan has accused India of blocking airspace access for a relief mission bound for flood-hit Sri Lanka, claiming that a special aircraft carrying humanitarian aid has been stranded for more than 60 hours awaiting flight clearance.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) described the partial clearance eventually offered by India as “operationally impractical,” because it was time-limited and did not permit a return flight — rendering the aid delivery effectively unfeasible.
According to the FO, the delay is severely obstructing an urgent relief operation aimed at delivering essential supplies to affected Sri Lankan communities reeling from flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah.
On the other hand, the government of India denies any airspace blockade, stating that overflight permission was granted — and that claims of deliberate obstruction are “baseless and misleading.”
The contrasting narratives underscore diplomatic tensions between the two countries amid a humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka.