NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Tuesday renewed its allegations that its reduction operations for cyclone-hit Sri Lanka have been being “hampered by lack of cooperation” from India, claiming that permission to make use of Indian airspace was being delayed.“India continues to dam humanitarian help from Pakistan to Sri Lanka. The particular plane carrying Pakistan’s humanitarian help to Sri Lanka continues to face delays for over 60 hours now awaiting flight clearance from India,” the Pakistan Overseas Workplace mentioned in a put up on X. It added that the “partial flight clearance issued by India final night time, after 48 hours, was operationally impractical: time-bound for only a few hours and with out validity for the return flight, severely hindering this pressing reduction Mission for the brotherly individuals of Sri Lanka.”India, on Monday, rejected the allegations. Individuals accustomed to the matter mentioned that India had promptly cleared Pakistan’s request to make use of its airspace for humanitarian help. “The official request for overflight was submitted by Pakistan at round 1300 hours (Indian time) on Monday and India expeditiously cleared the request and intimated the identical to Pakistan at 1730 hours (Indian time). It was processed on the shortest discover interval of 4 hours,” they added, as reported by PTI.Additionally learn | India junks Pak studies on denial of airspace for reduction flights to Sri LankaOfficers additionally dismissed studies within the Pakistani media claiming India had not granted overflight permission as “faux”. “Pakistani media, as traditional, is indulging in propaganda and peddling faux information. These allegations are baseless and deceptive. All requests for overflight or transit are processed strictly in accordance with established procedures and worldwide norms,” one of many individuals mentioned.In the meantime, the Pakistan Excessive Fee in Sri Lanka confronted criticism on-line after sharing photographs of the reduction supplies despatched to the flood-hit nation. In a put up on X Tuesday, the Excessive Fee uploaded pictures displaying stacks of packaged provides, stating: “Reduction packages from Pakistan have been efficiently delivered to help our brothers and sisters affected by the latest floods in Sri Lanka, which signifies our unwavering solidarity.” Nonetheless, netizens rapidly observed what gave the impression to be expiry dates of October 2024 printed on among the packages.Additionally learn | Did Pakistan ship expired support to flood-hit Sri Lanka? Social media pokes enjoyableSri Lanka has been grappling with widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure collapse triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, leaving a number of districts remoted and severely straining the nation’s disaster-response capability. India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to help Sri Lanka in its restoration efforts.The Catastrophe Administration Centre (DMC) confirmed at the least 410 deaths and 336 lacking as of Tuesday morning because of the catastrophic floods and landslides brought on by excessive climate situations since November 16.
