India Denounces Pakistani Strikes on Afghan Territory
The strikes, launched in the early hours of Sunday, targeted the eastern Afghan provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika. Islamabad characterised the assault as a "retributive response" to a recent suicide bombing on Pakistani soil — but the attack drew swift and forceful international backlash.
"India strongly condemns Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadhan," Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Sunday.
Taking direct aim at Islamabad's justification of the strikes, Jaiswal added that "it is another effort by Pakistan to externalize its internal failures."
Pakistan framed the operation as a necessary counter-terrorism measure, citing a wave of suicide bombings on its soil — including a devastating attack on a Shiite place of worship earlier this month that killed at least 31 people and injured nearly 170. The Islamic State – Khorasan Province has claimed responsibility for that assault.
The Saturday strikes now cast a long shadow over the ceasefire brokered between Kabul and Islamabad in October 2025 — an agreement already strained by deadly clashes that same month, which left dozens dead in the worst violence since the Taliban reclaimed power in Afghanistan in 2021. That earlier escalation stemmed from persistent disputes over border security and militant activity, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of harbouring Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters — allegations the Taliban administration has consistently denied.
Afghanistan's Defense Ministry responded with a stark warning Monday, threatening retaliation and declaring the strikes a violation of international norms.
"We hold the Pakistani military responsible for targeting civilians and religious sites. We will respond to these attacks in due course with a measured and appropriate response," the ministry said, calling the bombardment "a breach of international law and the principles of good neighborliness."
Despite having opposed the Taliban's return to power in 2021, India has since cultivated warm ties with Kabul — a relationship reflected in New Delhi's firm backing of Afghan sovereignty on Sunday.
"India reiterates its support for Afghanistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence," Jaiswal said, as regional tensions showed no sign of abating.
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