ISLAMABAD(National times)- The Foreign Office (FO) said that India was blocking Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka. In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that the special aircraft carrying Pakistan’s humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka continue to face delay for over 60 hours now awaiting flight clearance from India. The partial flight clearance issued by India last night, after 48 hours, was operationally impractical as it was time-bound for just a few hours and without validity for the return flight, thus severely hindering the urgent relief mission for the brotherly people of Sri Lanka. Earlier, Pakistan Navy Ship PNS Saif continued Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in Cyclone Ditwah hit areas of Sri Lanka. On the second day of relief efforts, the ship’s embarked Z9EC helicopter undertook multiple missions over severely flood-affected areas in Colombo and its surrounding regions, said a press release issued by Director General Public Relations (NAVY).

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Operating in close coordination with Sri Lankan authorities, the helicopter delivered essential food items and emergency supplies to stranded families in inundated residential zones inaccessible by road. PNS Saif, while on overseas deployment to Sri Lanka, will continue the relief efforts in the coming days to support and provide aid to Sri Lankan populace during their time of need.