India on Monday slammed Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan that resulted in civilian casualties, including children and women. The Ministry of External Affairs, in its statement, called the action a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty, a threat to regional peace and stability and reckless behaviour.
In an official statement, the MEA said the strikes reflect “Pakistan’s persistent pattern of reckless behaviour”. The MEA also called out Islamabad for attempting to shift attention from its internal challenges by perpetrating such acts on the neighbouring Afghan territory.
“India strongly condemns Pakistan’s air-strikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in several civilian casualties, including women and children. This blatant act of aggression by Pakistan is an assault on Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a direct threat to regional peace and stability,” the MEA said.
The Ministry further added that the strikes are indicative of a broader pattern of conduct by Pakistan.
“It reflects Pakistan’s persistent pattern of reckless behaviour and its futile attempt to externalise internal failures through desperate acts of violence beyond its borders,” the statement added.
The MEA also expressed grief and offered condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the strikes and wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the reported strikes.
“India conveys its condolences to Afghan families that have lost loved ones, prays for early recovery of those injured and reiterates its unwavering support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the MEA stated.
Pakistan launched the cross-border military strikes in the eastern Afghan provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar, which resulted in significant civilian casualties and widespread devastation.
Detailing a civilian death toll in the strikes, Hamdullah Fitrat, the deputy spokesperson of the Taliban-led Afghan government, stated, “According to the reports available thus far, the attacks carried out last night resulted in the martyrdom of 36 civilians, including women and children, while 163 others sustained injuries. Three residential houses were completely destroyed.”
“Pakistani fighter jets bombed a civilian residence. As a result, one elderly man and one child from the household were martyred, while other members of the family sustained injuries,” he added in a social media post.