Islamabad had claimed that its special aircraft carrying aid had been waiting for over 60 hours without clearance. Officials alleged the partial clearance issued after 48 hours was “operationally impractical,” lacking a valid return-flight slot, and therefore severely affecting the mission. Pakistan said this amounted to a lack of cooperation as communities in Sri Lanka desperately await assistance.
New Delhi responded that the request for overflight clearance was submitted to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad at around 1:00 pm on December 1 and was approved by 5:30 pm the same day — a turnaround of approximately four hours. The ministry emphasised that the approval was driven by the urgency of humanitarian needs and that granting such clearance in a brief timeframe reflects India’s commitment to assist Sri Lanka under existing relief operations.
The controversy unfolded as Sri Lanka battles major flooding, landslides and widespread destruction following a cyclone that displaced thousands and caused significant loss of life. The country remains under pressure to accept relief supplies and restore basic services as communities begin recovery efforts.
As tensions mounted over the accusations, social media and public comments also drew attention to the quality of aid supplies sent by Pakistan. Observers noted that some relief packages appeared to carry expired food items, prompting criticism over the sincerity and credibility of the Pakistani relief effort.
Meanwhile, India has already deployed resources under a dedicated relief initiative aimed at supporting Sri Lanka through naval and air-lifted supplies, search-and-rescue operations and humanitarian assistance. The Indian government reaffirmed that all requests for overflight or transit are processed transparently and in line with international norms.