The Ministry of External Affairs issued a sharp rebuttal on Tuesday as Pakistan accused its neighbour of “hindering” cyclone relief operations in Sri Lanka. The statement revealed that Indian authorities had greenlit a request for overflight clearance in a matter of hours since it was an urgent matter. Meanwhile Islamabad has claimed that its efforts were being “hampered by lack of cooperation” — alleging that New Delhi was “delaying permission” to use its airspace.
“We reject the ridiculous statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan which is yet another attempt of spreading anti-India misinformation. The request for overflight clearance for Pakistani aircraft carrying humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka was received by the High Commission of India in Islamabad at around 1300 hours on December 01. Given the urgency of humanitarian assistance, the Government of India processed the request expeditiously the same day and granted the overflight permission as per the itinerary proposed at 1730 hours on December 01” the Ministry of External Affairs clarified.
The MEA also reiterated its commitment towards the people of Sri Lanka amidst the crisis “through all available means”. India had launched Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28 to provide urgent search, rescue and HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster relief) support for its “closest maritime neighbour”. As per an MEA update earlier on Tuesday, New Delhi has delivered 53 tonnes of relief material to Sri Lanka via air and sea since November 28.
Pakistan claims India ‘hindering’ its efforts
The Pakistan Foreign Office claimed on Tuesday claimed that relief efforts were being “hampered by lack of cooperation” from India. It added that New Delhi was “delaying permission” for use of its airspace — claiming Islamabad had already waited for “over 60 hours”
“India continues to block humanitarian assistance from Pakistan to Sri Lanka. The special aircraft carrying Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka continues to face delays for over 60 hours now awaiting flight clearance from India,” the official handle said via X.
“The partial flight clearance issued by India last night, after 48 hours, was operationally impractical: time-bound for just a few hours and without validity for the return flight, severely hindering this urgent relief Mission for the brotherly people of Sri Lanka,” it added.
Cyclone Ditwah
At least 334 people have been confirmed dead across Sri Lanka as authorities continue to battle rising floodwaters in parts of the capital. The island nation has been grappling with widespread flooding, landslides and infrastructure collapse triggered by Cyclone Ditwah — leaving several districts isolated and severely straining its disaster-response capacity. Military-led rescue teams are now scouring flood-devastated areas for 336 people still missing in the aftermath of the severe storm.
President Dissanayake, speaking in a meeting with government officials, described the disaster as the worst to strike the country in recent history, saying it remains impossible to determine the full scale of casualties. He warned that the death toll is likely far higher than current figures.
(With inputs from agencies)
