Pakistan has once again leveled accusations against India, claiming that New Delhi's lack of cooperation is hindering its humanitarian mission to cyclone-ravaged Sri Lanka. The focal point of the dispute is the alleged delay in granting overflight permission for a Pakistani aircraft carrying relief supplies.
The Allegations and the Swift Rebuttal
On Tuesday, the Pakistan Foreign Office took to social media platform X to state that its special relief flight had been facing delays for over 60 hours awaiting clearance from Indian authorities. It claimed that a partial clearance issued after 48 hours was "operationally impractical" as it was time-bound for just a few hours and lacked validity for the return journey, thus severely hampering the urgent mission.
India, however, categorically rejected these allegations a day earlier on Monday. Officials familiar with the matter presented a contrasting timeline. They stated that Pakistan's official overflight request was submitted around 1300 hours Indian Standard Time on Monday. India processed and cleared the request by 1730 hours the same day, a turnaround time of approximately four hours. They emphasized that all such requests are handled strictly as per established international norms and procedures.
Indian officials dismissed reports in Pakistani media about denied permission as "fake" news and propaganda. They reiterated that the request was expedited given its humanitarian nature.
Online Scrutiny Over Relief Packages
Amidst the diplomatic tussle, the Pakistan High Commission in Sri Lanka faced unexpected criticism on social media. After posting images of the delivered relief packages on X, netizens quickly zoomed in on the printed dates on some boxes, which appeared to show an expiry date of October 2024. This observation led to a flurry of comments and questions online about the quality and shelf-life of the aid sent to the flood-hit nation.
The High Commission's post had highlighted the delivery as a sign of "unwavering solidarity" with the Sri Lankan people.
The Scale of the Disaster in Sri Lanka
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of a severe humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka. The island nation has been grappling with catastrophic flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah since mid-November. The disaster has isolated several districts and overwhelmed local response capacities.
As of Tuesday morning, the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre (DMC) confirmed a grim toll: at least 410 deaths and 336 people reported missing. The extreme weather has caused widespread infrastructure collapse, complicating rescue and relief efforts.
In response to the crisis, India has launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, a comprehensive initiative to support Sri Lanka's recovery. This effort is part of New Delhi's ongoing commitment to providing immediate neighborly assistance during natural calamities in the region.
The situation underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics in South Asia, where even humanitarian gestures can become entangled in longstanding bilateral tensions between India and Pakistan.
