Pakistan accused India aid blockage on Tuesday, major halt in humanitarian assistance to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, claiming a relief flight waited over 60 hours for airspace clearance. India denied the charge, stating it approved the request in four hours. The dispute highlights frictions amid a disaster that killed 366 people and displaced 209,000.
Cyclone Ditwah Devastates Sri Lanka
Cyclone Ditwah struck Sri Lanka’s eastern coast last Friday, unleashing floods and landslides across all 25 districts. The storm dumped 150 to 500 mm of rain over three days, with winds up to 90 km/h. Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre reported 366 deaths by Monday evening. Another 360 people remain missing. The agency noted 20,000 homes destroyed and 108,000 displaced into temporary shelters.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency on Sunday. He called it the largest natural disaster in the nation’s history. “This is the most challenging crisis we face,” Dissanayake said in a national address. Power outages affected a third of the country. Clean water supplies failed in many areas. Rescue teams searched debris in central highlands, where landslides buried villages.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported 209,000 displaced as of Monday. IOM teams distributed non-food items like blankets and hygiene kits. “Communities face immense uncertainty,” said IOM Chief of Mission Kristin Parco. The UN launched sector coordination for food, health, and shelter needs. A multi-sector assessment identified urgent gaps in water and sanitation.
Pakistan Says India Aid Blockage Sri Lanka Delays Relief
Pakistan’s Foreign Office lodged the complaint late Monday. It said a special aircraft loaded with aid sat grounded for over 60 hours. The plane carried supplies for flood victims in Sri Lanka, a key ally. Diplomats confirmed initial permission for Indian airspace use. But full clearance stalled, the office claimed.
In an official statement, the Foreign Office wrote: “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 India last 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 statement tied the issue to broader tensions. In April, an attack in India-occupied Kashmir killed 26 people. It sparked a four-day conflict. Both countries then closed airspaces to each other. Pakistan lifted its ban on Indian flights on November 24. But restrictions linger on humanitarian routes, sources said.
This marks the latest flare-up in humanitarian aid tensions India Pakistan. Past rows include aid disputes during the 2022 floods in Pakistan. Analysts see the claim as amplifying bilateral strains. Sri Lanka welcomed Pakistan’s aid pledge earlier. The plane holds tents, medicines, and food packets worth PKR 500 million.
India Denies Pakistan Airspace Aid Sri Lanka Claims
India rejected the accusation hours later. Officials called it baseless propaganda. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed swift approval. Pakistan submitted the overflight request at 1:00 PM IST on Monday, December 1. India cleared it by 5:30 PM IST the same day.
A ministry spokesperson stated: “Given the fact that the request pertained to humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, Government of India expeditiously cleared the request and intimated the Government of Pakistan at 1730 hrs (IST) today through official channels.” The process took four hours, officials noted. They stressed the gesture came despite Pakistan’s ongoing ban on Indian airlines using its airspace.
India framed the response as part of its first-responder role in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with President Dissanayake on Monday. Modi offered condolences for the loss of lives and devastation. He pledged more support under Operation Sagar Bandhu.
The operation delivered 53 tons of aid since November 28. Two Indian Navy ships carried 9.5 tons of rations to Colombo. Three Air Force planes airlifted 31.5 tons, including tents, blankets, and medicines. INS Sukanya brought another 12 tons to Trincomalee. India evacuated over 2,000 stranded citizens from Sri Lanka.
Dissanayake thanked India in the call. “India stands in firm solidarity and support with the people of Sri Lanka in this hour of need,” Modi conveyed, per the Prime Minister’s Office.
Cyclone Ditwah Sri Lanka Pakistan Relief Delay Fuels Debate
The row unfolded as Cyclone Ditwah Sri Lanka Pakistan relief delay gripped headlines. Pakistani media highlighted the 60-hour wait as deliberate obstruction. Indian outlets dismissed it as misinformation. No independent verification emerged on the partial clearance details.
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre coordinated with both donors. It praised rapid responses from neighbours. Over 1.5 million people faced impacts, the centre said. Floodwaters receded in Colombo but rose in central areas. Landslide alerts persisted in Kandy district.
Aid from other sources flowed in. The UN appealed for funds. IOM and partners assessed needs in 15 districts. Pakistan deployed emergency teams alongside Sri Lankan forces. India sent rescue squads to worst-hit zones.
Humanitarian aid tensions India Pakistan echo past crises. In 2004, both aided after the Indian Ocean tsunami. Recent years saw accusations over Kashmir aid. This incident tests regional cooperation amid shared threats like climate disasters.
South Asia feels the sting of Cyclone Ditwah beyond Sri Lanka. Similar storms hit Indonesia (600 deaths) and Thailand (176 deaths). The event underscores vulnerability in the Indian Ocean rim. Warmer seas fuel stronger cyclones, experts say. Sri Lanka’s economy, still recovering from 2022 defaults, strains under reconstruction costs estimated at USD 2 billion.
Background
Cyclone Ditwah formed in the Bay of Bengal on November 27. It brushed Sri Lanka’s coast on November 28. The storm triggered the Deduru Oya Bridge collapse in Kurunegala on November 30. A delivery driver in Colombo told AFP: “Every year we get minor floods. This is something else.” The disaster tops the 2004 tsunami in scale for Sri Lanka.
Bilateral air bans stem from April’s Pahalgam attack. Pakistan blamed India for escalation. Both sides mobilised forces briefly. Diplomatic channels reopened in October. Yet, trust deficits linger.
What’s Next
Sri Lanka seeks more international aid. Rescue operations continue through Wednesday. Pakistan plans to dispatch the flight once clearances align. India vows sustained support. Diplomats watch for escalation in humanitarian aid tensions India Pakistan. Regional forums like SAARC may address airspace norms.
The saga of Pakistan says India aid blockage Sri Lanka resolves only with verified delivery. Victims wait as politics intersects relief.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, December 2nd, 2025
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