External Affairs Ministry says aid delivery delayed by 60 hours, India denies blocking airspace
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said its humanitarian assistance mission to Sri Lanka was delayed by more than 60 hours as India withheld full flight clearance.
A special plane carrying aid from Pakistan to Sri Lanka has been awaiting clearance to enter Indian airspace. The ministry said the partial clearance granted by India on Sunday night, after a 48-hour wait, was not operationally practical as it was limited to only a few hours and was not valid for the return journey.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the delay as “a serious obstacle to this urgent aid mission” to the “brotherly people of Sri Lanka.” Pakistan had sent the aid in response to humanitarian needs in Sri Lanka, but the prolonged wait has raised concerns about the timely delivery of essential supplies.
India has denied all claims that it blocked airspace for Pakistan’s humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka.
India continues to block Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka. The special plane carrying humanitarian aid from Pakistan to Sri Lanka continues to face delays for more than 60 hours, awaiting flight clearance from India.
The partial flight authorization issued by…
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) December 2, 2025
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At least 153 people have died in Sri Lanka following landslides and flooding caused by Cyclone Ditwah, another 191 are missing and more than half a million people affected across the country.
According to the Disaster Management Center, more than 78,000 people have been transferred to almost 800 relief centers, most of them located in schools.
Thousands of police, navy personnel and army troops are distributing food, clearing roads and moving stranded families to safety.
Flooding in Malwana and other low-lying areas near Colombo has left most houses underwater and without electricity, officials said.
The country’s meteorological authorities have predicted continued rain over the weekend, raising fears of new flooding in already flooded regions.
Local businesses, including pharmacies, supermarkets and fabric stores, are inundated, raising concerns about financial losses as store owners fear long-term recovery.
