India swiftly granted Pakistan’s request for overflight clearance on 1 December 2025, allowing a humanitarian aid flight to pass through Indian airspace en route to flood-ravaged Sri Lanka.

The request, submitted around 1:00 PM IST, was processed and approved within four hours, underscoring the urgency of delivering relief to Sri Lanka.

This move counters misleading claims from some Pakistani media outlets alleging that India had denied permission.

Indian officials highlighted that the decision was based solely on humanitarian grounds amid ongoing regional tensions, ensuring timely assistance during Sri Lanka’s crisis.

Humanitarian Priority Amidst Diplomatic Strains

The overflight clearance came at a time when India and Pakistan maintain closed airspace relations due to earlier geopolitical conflicts stemming from security incidents earlier in 2025. Despite this backdrop of tense bilateral ties, India prioritised urgent humanitarian needs over political considerations.

Officials emphasised that the clearance was granted on purely humanitarian grounds, focusing on the relief mission to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah. An official from India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated, “The request was processed at the shortest notice period of four hours due to the critical nature of the humanitarian operation.”

This rapid response was aimed at ensuring that essential aid reached Sri Lanka without delay, reflecting India’s commitment to regional disaster relief.

The claim from sections of Pakistani media stating that India denied the flight’s overflight permission was termed baseless and misleading by Indian authorities.

Simultaneously, India has been running Operation Sagar Bandhu, a large-scale disaster relief mission in Sri Lanka involving naval and air assets.

The Indian Navy deployed the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, frigate INS Udayagiri, and offshore patrol vessel Sukanya to deliver aid and conduct rescue operations.

Helicopters such as Chetak choppers operating from the Vikrant and IAF Mi-17s in coordination with the Sri Lankan Air Force have airlifted hundreds of stranded people, including vulnerable groups like pregnant women and the critically injured.

The ongoing relief efforts have included delivering more than 53 tonnes of essential material like food, medicine, and supplies.

These coordinated humanitarian responses underline India’s active support for Sri Lanka amid one of the worst flooding disasters in the island’s recent history.

Context of Sri Lanka’s Crisis and Regional Cooperation

Sri Lanka declared a national emergency after Cyclone Ditwah caused devastating floods across the country, resulting in over 200 deaths and widespread displacement.

The floods severely affected large populations, destroying homes and critical infrastructure, and compounding challenges in accessing remote and isolated areas.

The international community, including neighbouring countries like India and Pakistan, has mobilised to provide crucial aid and relief operations. Pakistan’s relief flight carrying humanitarian supplies to Sri Lanka was intended to contribute to these efforts.

The decision by India to approve Pakistan’s overflight clearance within hours demonstrates the potential for cooperation and goodwill even amid the complex India-Pakistan relationship.

It also highlights the importance of separating humanitarian imperatives from political differences, particularly when lives and safety are at stake.

Indian officials underlined that swift communication and transparent processes facilitated the clearance, reaffirming a commitment to humanitarian values in the region.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

India’s prompt and humane response in granting Pakistan’s aid flight overflight rights reaffirms the vital principle that human welfare transcends political disputes.

Such moments of cooperation provide a beacon of hope in South Asia, inspiring greater dialogue, empathy, and collaboration. In times of natural calamities and emergencies, it becomes essential that countries set aside differences to foster peace and solidarity.

This gesture should encourage media outlets, governments, and citizens alike to advocate for messages that promote compassion over conflict and unity over division.