India has strongly condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan’s eastern Paktika province, which targeted refugee camps and led to the deaths of at least 46 civilians, including women and children. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement expressing India’s condemnation of the tragic loss of life and reiterated its stance against any form of violence against innocent civilians.

In response to media queries regarding the attacks, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost. We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians.” He further pointed out that Pakistan had a long history of blaming its neighbours for internal issues and acknowledged the Afghan government’s condemnation of the strikes.

The Airstrikes: A Deadly Attack

On December 25/26, 2024, Pakistani military aircraft carried out airstrikes on multiple locations in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, particularly targeting the Barmal district. These attacks killed at least 46 people, with the majority being women and children. Many of the victims were refugees who had fled Pakistan’s military operations in the country’s northwest. Afghan officials reported that the strikes also left several others wounded, with six confirmed injuries as of the latest reports.

The Pakistani military confirmed the airstrikes, describing them as “intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations” aimed at dismantling terrorist hideouts of the Pakistani Taliban (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP) operating in Afghanistan. However, this justification has been met with strong criticism from Kabul, which claims that the attacks primarily targeted unarmed civilians, not insurgents.

Afghan Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Enayatullah Khowrazmi denounced the airstrikes as a “blatant violation of international principles and an act of aggression,” asserting that the Afghan Taliban would respond to this “cowardly act.”

Afghan and International Reactions

Afghanistan swiftly responded by summoning Pakistan’s ambassador in Kabul and lodging a formal protest. The Afghan Foreign Ministry condemned the violation of Afghan sovereignty, stating, “Afghanistan will not accept any violation of its territory under any circumstances.” Afghanistan’s leadership warned that such actions would inevitably have consequences on bilateral relations and declared its readiness to defend its territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), a group operating along the border and closely aligned with the Afghan Taliban, claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in Pakistan just days prior, which had killed seven Pakistani soldiers. The TTP’s spokesperson, Mohammad Khurasani, later claimed that the Pakistani airstrikes had killed 50 people, including 27 women and children, in Barmal. The group also shared graphic images, alleging they were of children killed in the raid.

India’s condemnation came as a timely reinforcement of its long-standing position on regional security. The Indian government’s firm reaction highlights the concern over Pakistan’s repeated cross-border military actions and their impact on civilian populations in neighbouring countries. “It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures,” Jaiswal stated, reflecting India’s ongoing diplomatic criticism of Pakistan’s destabilizing activities in the region.

Pakistan’s Position

Pakistan has yet to respond directly to the international condemnation, including India’s strong remarks. However, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, praised the country’s security forces for their efforts in combating terrorism, particularly the operations against the TTP. While this statement focused on domestic security measures, it made no reference to the airstrikes in Afghanistan.

Despite Pakistan’s focus on counterterrorism, the airstrikes in Afghanistan have reignited tensions between the two countries. Afghanistan’s Taliban government has long been accused by Pakistan of not doing enough to curb the activities of the TTP within Afghan borders. The Pakistani government, on the other hand, has repeatedly warned that Afghan soil should not be used to launch attacks against Pakistan, which it claims is a major security concern.

Regional Implications

The bombing incident marks an escalation in the already tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have been fraught with mutual accusations of harbouring insurgents and facilitating terrorism. While the airstrikes were framed by Pakistan as part of its broader counterterrorism strategy, the impact on civilian lives and the violation of Afghan sovereignty have further strained the relationship.

India’s unequivocal condemnation of the attack reflects its deep concerns about the regional security dynamics, particularly in light of Pakistan’s ongoing military activities in the border areas. As the situation unfolds, India continues to emphasize the importance of respecting national boundaries and safeguarding civilian lives in conflict zones.