Pakistan accuses India of blocking relief flights to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka

Pakistan has accused India of continuing to block humanitarian assistance from Islamabad to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Foreign Office said the special aircraft carrying Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka continued to face delay for over 60 hours now awaiting flight clearance from India.

The partial flight clearance issued by India Monday 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, the FO statement said.

On Monday night, the Foreign Office had received permission from India to use its airspace for humanitarian aid flights to Sri Lanka to provide flood relief.

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 delay for over 60 hours now awaiting flight clearance from India.

The partial flight clearance issued by…

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 2, 2025

The Sri Lankan government called for international aid and used military helicopters to reach people stranded by flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. At least 355 people have been killed, Sri Lankan officials said on Monday, with another 366 still missing.

An official in the foreign ministry said that the Indian high commission sent written confirmation allowing humanitarian overflights through Indian airspace. The flights have been cleared to start Tuesday.

The death toll from flooding and landslides in Sri Lanka was now 410, the Disaster Management Centre said Tuesday, with another 336 people missing following a week of heavy rains.
It said over 1.5 million people were affected by the worst natural disaster to hit the country since the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.

Pakistan and India have closed their airspaces to each other’s aircraft since tensions between them escalated in April and the four-day conflict in May.

In October, Islamabad had extended the airspace ban until November 24 for the Indian planes.

President praises Navy’s relief operation in Sri Lanka

President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday commended the Pakistan Navy for carrying out the relief operation in Sri Lanka, after the floods and landslides hit many parts of the country, causing deaths and widespread destruction.

The president, in a statement, lauded the Pakistan Navy helicopter crew for the timely rescue of a family stranded for five days.

He said that the flood relief mission carried out by Pakistan Navy’s ship “Saif” in Sri Lanka was a manifestation of the deep-rooted friendship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Reporter Anwer Abbas/AFP