Did Pakistan not allow Indian military planes to carry relief aid to quake-devastated Turkey

It was reported by sections of the Indian media that Pakistan denied permission to Indian aircraft carrying humanitarian aid and rescue officials to earthquake-hit Turkey from using its airspace and there was no confirmation from either side over the development.

According to CNN-News18, the Indian Air Force's C-17 Globemaster had to take a longer route as Islamabad refused to grant it permission to use its airspace.

But it emerged that Indian aircraft did not fly over Pakistan to reach Ankara, the capital of Turkey, WION reported.

It is believed that the Indian establishment never asked for permission from Pakistan's aviation authorities about sending the rescue planes, the report added.

During evacuation of Indians from Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, India's military planes flew from Kabul to Dushanbe in Tajikistan and used Iran's airspace to return to the country.

WION spoke to Turkish ambassador to India Firat Sunel who said that he had "no information" on Indian military jets being disallowed to use Pakistani airspace to reach Turkey.

India sent two C-17 planes on Monday (6) and Tuesday (7) after the deadly quake rocked Turkey and Syria early on Monday.

The first batch of earthquake relief material carried search and rescue teams from the country's National Disaster Response Force, specially trained dog squads, medical supplies, drilling machines, and other necessary equipment to help Turkey in evacuating its civilians.

Earlier, Sunel thanked India for sending relief materials and termed the south Asian country as “dost” (which in English means friend).

““Dost” is a common word in Turkish and Hindi... We have a Turkish proverb: "Dost kara günde belli olur" (a friend in need is a friend indeed). Thank you very much India," he said.

He also shared an exchange between Indian and Turkish authorities following the earthquakes.

On Monday, India’s junior foreign minister V Muraleedharan went to the Turkish embassy in New Delhi to express condolences.

He also conveyed Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s sympathy and humanitarian support.