India on Monday became the only country to explicitly condemn Pakistan’s latest airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, calling them a violation of Afghan sovereignty and a threat to regional peace, while other governments and international organizations urged restraint without directly criticizing Islamabad.
In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it “strongly condemns” Pakistan’s strikes on Afghan territory, saying they had caused 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 ministry said.
India also accused Pakistan of following “a persistent pattern of reckless behaviour” and attempting to externalize its internal security failures through cross-border military action.
New Delhi extended condolences to the families of those killed, wished the injured a speedy recovery and reiterated its support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
India’s statement came after the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirmed that at least 28 civilians were killed and 49 others injured in Pakistani airstrikes carried out Sunday night in Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces. Women and children were among the victims, and the UN said the figures remain preliminary and could rise as hospitals continue treating the wounded.
Pakistan has acknowledged carrying out the strikes, saying they targeted hideouts used by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar militants. Taliban have rejected that account, saying the attacks struck residential areas and caused heavy civilian casualties.
The latest strikes have prompted a wave of international reactions, although most governments and international organizations have stopped short of directly condemning Pakistan.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the violence, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and a diplomatic resolution to the dispute. His spokesman also urged all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and protect civilian infrastructure.
The European Union called on all sides to exercise restraint, avoid targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, and reduce tensions.
Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, said he was deeply disturbed by reports that women and children were among those killed, urging Pakistan to address its security concerns in accordance with international law and calling for accountability.
Richard Lindsay, the UK’s special envoy for Afghanistan, also expressed concern over the escalating violence, condemned terrorism and urged all sides to protect civilians and de-escalate.
Inside Afghanistan, the strikes have drawn strong criticism from political figures across the country’s divided political landscape.
Former presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, former foreign minister Haneef Atmar, and Afghanistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN, led by Charge d’Affaires Naseer Faiq, all condemned the attacks.
In its statement, the Afghan mission to the UN described the strikes as a serious violation of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and international law. At the same time, it criticized the Taliban for failing to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for UN-designated terrorist groups, while stressing that such concerns could never justify unilateral military action that endangers civilians or violates another country’s sovereignty.
The airstrikes marked Pakistan’s second cross-border military operation inside Afghanistan in June.
