India has strongly condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan, calling it a recurring tactic of Islamabad to deflect attention from its internal issues by blaming neighboring countries. The airstrikes, which occurred in the Barmal district of eastern Paktika province, reportedly resulted in the deaths of 46 people, including women and children, according to the Taliban.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement expressing its unequivocal condemnation of any attacks on innocent civilians. “We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost. It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures,” the statement read.
The Taliban and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a close ally of the Afghan Taliban, have both claimed that the victims were refugees, with the TTP specifically stating that the deceased included 27 women and children who had fled Pakistan’s northwest region. The strikes took place on December 26, hours after Pakistan’s special representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, visited Kabul to engage in discussions with Afghan officials.
In response to the airstrikes, Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Pakistan’s envoy, lodging a strong protest over the attack. Kabul firmly stated that it would not tolerate any violations of its territory and warned that such actions could have serious consequences for bilateral relations between the two countries.
As the situation unfolds, India has reiterated its call for respect for sovereignty and non-violence in the region, stressing the need for responsible actions from all parties involved.
