ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office has received permission from India to use its airspace for humanitarian flights to Sri Lanka. Diplomatic sources confirmed the development to Dawn on Monday. The approval will allow Pakistan to dispatch flood-relief assistance to affected areas. An official from the foreign ministry said the Indian high commission sent written confirmation earlier in the evening. The flights have been cleared to begin tomorrow. Officials described the decision as a rare humanitarian exception amid strained bilateral ties.
Sri Lanka Battles Severe Flooding After Cyclone Ditwah
Sri Lanka has launched a major rescue operation after devastating floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah. The government requested international aid as military helicopters struggled to reach stranded communities. Officials in Colombo reported at least 355 deaths on Monday. They added that another 366 people remain missing across multiple districts. The disaster has overwhelmed rescue services and left thousands displaced. Authorities said continuous rainfall was complicating relief efforts across the country.
Regional Rainfall Crisis Expands Across Asia
The situation follows deadly storms across several Asian countries last week. Separate weather systems produced intense and prolonged rainfall over Sri Lanka and Indonesia’s Sumatra region. Southern Thailand and northern Malaysia also experienced widespread flooding. The death toll across the region surpassed 1,100 on Monday. Climate experts warned that monsoon seasons are becoming more unpredictable. They said climate change is intensifying rainfall patterns and strengthening tropical storms. The relentless downpours left many residents clinging to rooftops while awaiting rescue. Entire villages were cut off from assistance as roads and bridges collapsed.
Rare Cooperation Despite Airspace Restrictions
India and Pakistan have kept their airspaces closed to each other’s aircraft since April. Tensions escalated after an attack in India-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people. A four-day conflict followed the incident. Islamabad later extended its airspace ban until November 24. Despite these restrictions, both sides agreed to open a humanitarian corridor for Sri Lanka. Diplomats said the approval reflects the urgent need for coordinated regional disaster relief.
