AMID speculations that Pakistan did not allow Indian Air Force planes to fly over its air space while going to Turkey and Syria for relief operations, the Indian Air Force clarified that as per standard operating procedure, its aircraft have avoided flying over Pakistan.

"Our aircraft don't fly over Pakistan as this is our standard operating procedure. Our planes take a longer route by flying from the Gujarat side to avoid Pakistani air space while going towards Europe or West Asia," an IAF official was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

India extended its support to Turkey through the ongoing crisis after the earthquake that jolted the country on Monday. The IAF has sent aircraft to Turkey with relief material, National Disaster Response Force, and a military field hospital from Agra.

The Indian Air Force has also despatched a C-130 Super Hercules aircraft with medical supplies to Syria.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted that IAF had also dispatched the field hospital to Turkey to establish a 30 bedded medical facility. Its first component has left on C17 with a 45-member medical team, including critical care specialists and surgeons. Also has an X-ray machine, ventilators, OT, and other equipment.

According to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), a meeting was conducted where it was decided that the NDRF's search and rescue teams, medical teams, and relief supplies would be sent out right away in collaboration with the Turkish government.

Several other countries have come forward to aid and assist Turkey after a massive earthquake shattered lives in the country.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Turkey's southeast and neighbouring Syria has killed more than 46,000 people and left at least a million people homeless, with the economic cost of the disaster expected to run into billions of dollars.

(Disclaimer: The news claiming that Pakistan denied airspace to Indian aircraft carrying relief material to earthquake-hit Turkey and Syria was created based on a report by News18. However, News18 later updated their earlier version of the story. Accordingly, Jagran English has made the necessary changes to the story. We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our readers and in our commitment to provide accurate information, the entire story has been updated to correct this error.)