Pakistan says aid aircraft still stranded without adequate overflight clearance

Colombo,Dec.2 (Daily Mirror)- Pakistan has claimed that its relief aircraft remains stranded due to insufficient overflight clearance, despite India stating earlier that permission had been granted for a Pakistani plane carrying humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka.

In a statement, the Pakistani High Commission in Colombo said the aircraft has been unable to depart because the clearance granted did not provide enough time for the plane to complete the round trip to Colombo.

According to the statement, Pakistan’s relief operation was launched on the special directives of the Pakistani Prime Minister, who ordered the immediate mobilization of national resources to support Sri Lanka during its time of need. Since November 29, the Pakistan Armed Forces and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), facilitated by the High Commission in Colombo, have been prepared to carry out extensive relief efforts in Sri Lanka.

However, Pakistan says its emergency relief mission—comprising a C-130 aircraft carrying a fully equipped Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team, field hospitals, trained sniffer dogs, and nearly 200 tons of life-saving supplies—has been stranded at Noor Khan Air Base in Islamabad for more than two days. The statement accuses India of employing delaying tactics in granting flight clearance.

India reportedly granted a one-day diplomatic clearance at 6:00 p.m. on December 1, valid for only about six hours, which Pakistan says was insufficient for the aircraft to fly to Colombo and return. Pakistani authorities further claim that Indian officials repeatedly requested resubmission and rerouting of flight plans despite having already received the required documentation.

“These procedural hurdles appear to cause further delays, undermining timely relief delivery to a disaster-struck neighbour,” the statement noted.

The High Commission alleged that India’s actions disregard established humanitarian norms, UN guiding principles, and SAARC humanitarian charter principles, calling the behaviour “callous” and “politically motivated.”

It added that a Pakistan Navy ship already in Sri Lankan waters is actively engaged in relief operations in coordination with local authorities, underscoring Pakistan’s continued support.

Pakistan said it intends to send multiple aircraft with relief supplies and expressed hope that India would adopt “a responsible and humanitarian approach” by granting immediate and practical airspace access without politicizing the mission.

The statement emphasized Pakistan’s solidarity with Sri Lanka, noting that the aid reflects the “heartfelt support of the Pakistani nation” during the ongoing crisis.