India has condemned Pakistan’s recent air strikes in Afghanistan that resulted in the deaths of at least 46 civilians, including women and children. The air strikes, carried out on December 24, targeted several locations in Afghanistan. In retaliation, the Afghan Taliban launched counterattacks near the disputed Durand Line on December 28, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
In a statement on Monday, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed India’s condemnation of the attack on civilians, stating, “We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians.” He also criticized Pakistan for its longstanding practice of blaming neighboring countries for its internal failures.
The Taliban government in Kabul responded by lodging a formal protest with Pakistan over the strikes. An Afghan spokesperson pointed out that the air strikes were carried out while Pakistan’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, was in Kabul for official talks, calling the strikes a violation of Afghan sovereignty and an attempt to sow distrust between the two countries.
Pakistani officials, however, defended the air strikes, stating they were aimed at the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group using Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan’s security forces. Pakistan’s military believes that targeting TTP hideouts in Afghanistan is critical to countering the group’s insurgency.
In response, the Taliban reiterated that the TTP is an internal issue for Pakistan and criticized Islamabad for its past support of Islamist movements, which they argue has contributed to the current instability. The Taliban also accused Pakistan of creating mistrust in the region through its military actions.
The escalation comes after a December 21 attack by the TTP killed 16 Pakistani soldiers, further inflaming tensions between the two countries. Pakistan had hoped that the Taliban would curb the TTP’s activities following their return to power in Kabul in 2021, but the Taliban has shown little indication of taking action against the group.
The conflict between the two countries has been growing, with the recent violence marking a significant deterioration in relations.
BY – KARTIK
