India refuses to allow Pakistan to use its airspace, therefore Pakistan ships humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka.

Due to Indian authorities’ refusal to use its airspace, Pakistan sent 200 tonnes of humanitarian goods to Sri Lanka by boat on Tuesday.

Communities ravaged by Cyclone Ditwah, which caused devastating floods and landslides throughout Sri Lanka, are to get the supplies.

The island nation has declared a state of emergency as a result of the catastrophe, which has killed hundreds and displaced millions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne, Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, and Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani attended a send-off ceremony in Islamabad.

“Pakistan stands in full solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Foreign Office (FO) had earlier claimed that India was preventing Pakistan from sending help to Sri Lanka.

355 people have died from Sri Lanka’s cyclone, while 366 are still unaccounted for.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said in a statement that the special plane that is transporting Pakistan’s help to Sri Lanka has been delayed for more than 60 hours and is currently awaiting Indian flight permission.

The urgent relief effort for the fraternal people of Sri Lanka was seriously hampered by India’s partial flying permission last night, which was provided after 48 hours but was operationally impracticable because it was only time-bound for a few hours and did not apply to the return trip.