This taxon is said to differ from Aquilegia pubiflora in the pink flowers and spur which is slightly curved.

I have not seen the type specimen (Muqarrab Shah & Dilawar Klan 2333, ISL), but the characters to distinguish this species from Aquilegia pubiflora are not reliable as seen in the following gatherings of Aquilegia pubiflora which occasionally exhibit red to pink colour, but otherwise are typical: Flowers wine coloured (Chamba, R.R. Stewart 8653, RAW) or mauve (R.R. & I.D. Stewart 18177 & C. E. Parkinson 7392 from Simla Hill States, RAW).