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Pakistan Accuses India of Blocking Humanitarian Aid Flight to Flood-Hit Sri Lanka

By The South Asia Times

Islamabad — Pakistan on Tuesday accused India of blocking the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, where devastating floods have reportedly killed more than 400 people and left hundreds missing.

In an official statement shared with the media, the Foreign Ministry said a special aircraft carrying relief supplies had been delayed for over 60 hours while awaiting flight clearance from India. Pakistan said the situation was urgent and the delay was hindering a critical operation to help what it called “the brotherly people of Sri Lanka.”

According to the statement, India issued a partial clearance late Monday after 48 hours, but the approval was “operationally impractical” because it was time-restricted and did not include permission for the aircraft’s return flight.

Pakistan has pledged humanitarian assistance to Colombo as authorities in Sri Lanka intensify rescue and recovery efforts following days of severe flooding and landslides.