India Condemns Pakistan’s Airstrikes in Eastern Afghanistan
India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson has condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes on parts of eastern Afghanistan, reaffirming New Delhi’s strong support for Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty. On Friday, Randeep Jaiswal stated during a press conference that India’s engagement with Kabul will continue to focus on humanitarian aid and developmental cooperation.
Responding to questions about the possibility of India providing military assistance to the Taliban administration after these attacks, he emphasized that New Delhi’s interactions are currently concentrated on humanitarian support and development projects. According to him, India strongly condemns the airstrikes conducted from Pakistani territory, which have resulted in the deaths of several civilians, including women and children, and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
The spokesperson added that humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and other relief items, will continue to be provided to Afghanistan, alongside development projects aimed at improving the living conditions of Afghan residents. However, he did not specify whether the Taliban administration had requested any defense or military cooperation from India.
Previously, India had also condemned Pakistan’s air attacks. According to a United Nations report, airstrikes on districts in Paktia’s Samkani, Paktika’s Giyan, and Kunar’s Manogi provinces have killed at least 28 civilians and injured 49 others.
In contrast, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement defending the attacks, describing them as “legitimate, targeted, and proportionate” actions against what it called “terrorist infrastructure.” Islamabad claimed that 25 members of the TTP and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar groups were killed in the operation.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry also described India’s earlier reaction as “baseless and ridiculous,” accusing New Delhi of interfering in the internal affairs of neighboring countries. However, India remains the only country to officially condemn the airstrikes, while other countries and international organizations have only called for the protection of civilians.
Following these events, concerns have risen over escalating border tensions and their impact on the security of populations in eastern Afghanistan. The Taliban administration has yet to offer a clear explanation on measures to prevent such attacks from recurring and to ensure civilian safety.
