New Delhi [India], December 2 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday dismissed Pakistan’s allegations regarding delays in overflight clearance for aircraft carrying humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka, calling them a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal clarified that India acted promptly and transparently. “We reject the ridiculous statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, which is yet another attempt to spread anti-India misinformation,” he said.
Jaiswal outlined the timeline, noting that Pakistan’s request was received through diplomatic channels at around 1:00 PM on December 1, 2025, and India granted overflight permission within hours by 5:30 PM the same day. He emphasised that the urgent humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka required swift action.
“India remains committed to assisting the people of Sri Lanka in these challenging times through all available means,” Jaiswal added, reaffirming New Delhi’s consistent support during natural disasters.
Despite India’s clarification, the Pakistan Foreign Office continued to allege delays, claiming that the clearance issued by India was “operationally impractical” and “severely hindered” their relief mission. Meanwhile, Pakistan faced scrutiny online after its High Commission in Sri Lanka shared images of relief packages, some reportedly showing expiry dates of October 2024.
Sri Lanka continues to reel from Cyclone Ditwah, with flooding, landslides, and widespread infrastructure damage. The country has reported at least 410 deaths and 336 missing persons since November 16, according to the Disaster Management Centre. India has deployed Operation Sagar Bandhu to provide relief, restore essential services, and support affected communities. (ANI)
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