The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday called Pakistan’s claim that India delayed giving overflight clearance sought by Islamabad as “ridiculous”.
According to a statement by the MEA, Pakistan
submitted a request at around 1 pm (IST) on December 1, 2025, seeking permission for an aircraft to use Indian airspace the same day for a humanitarian assistance mission to Sri Lanka.
Pakistani media had claimed that India didn’t approve the request, delaying their assistance to flood-hit Sri Lanka.
Responding to queries regarding a statement by Pakistan on overflight clearance, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We reject the ridiculous statement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan which is yet another attempt of spreading anti-India misinformation. The request for overflight clearance for Pakistani aircraft carrying humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka was received by the High Commission of India in Islamabad at around 1300 hrs on December 1, 2025.”
“Given the urgency of humanitarian assistance, the Government of India processed the request expeditiously the same day and granted the overflight permission as per the itinerary proposed at 1730 hrs on December 01, 2025. India remains committed to assisting the people of Sri Lanka in these challenging times through all available means,” he added.
India also called out a pattern of misinformation emerging from Pakistan, noting that this incident follows recent attempts by Pakistani media and diplomatic handles to spread incorrect claims — including false reports regarding India’s participation in an Oxford Union debate.
Sources reiterated that India’s approach to airspace management remains professional, rule-based and aligned with global aviation standards.
Earlier, Pakistani media falsely reported that India refused to grant airspace to Pakistan for humanitarian aid flights headed to flood-hit Sri Lanka, which delayed help to the affected people.
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