Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman has urged the government to engage in discussions with India to allow Pakistan’s special relief aircraft carrying humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka to cross its airspace.
Addressing the media today, MP Rahman said that the Indian Government’s “partial flight clearance” for the aircraft, which is carrying emergency supplies for flood-affected Sri Lankans, is insufficient.
“According to current reports, India has allowed a window of 06 hours for Pakistani aircraft to deliver their relief supplies and return. However, it takes at least 4 ½ hours to travel from Pakistan’s Rawalpindi to Sri Lanka. So the “partial flight clearance” provided by India is insufficient,” he said.
MP Rahman urged the government to immediately intervene and hold discussions with the Indian Government, to work towards receiving the relief aid being provided by Pakistan, emphasizing that all and any aid granted was vital for Sri Lanka at this juncture.
Earlier today, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused India of blocking a special relief aircraft carrying humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka, saying the flight has been waiting for clearance for more than 60 hours.
In a statement posted on X, the ministry said the aircraft, which is carrying emergency supplies for flood-affected Sri Lankans, has faced repeated delays due to a lack of overflight approval from India.
According to the statement, India granted only a “partial flight clearance” after 48 hours, but Pakistan described it as “operationally impractical” because the approval was valid for only a few hours and did not include permission for the return leg. (Newswire)