'Pakistani strikes on Afghan civilians...acts of war': India at UN
What's the story
India has condemned Pakistan's airstrikes in Afghanistan during a United Nations Security Council discussion. The attacks, which killed civilians including women, children, and cricketers, were termed a "serious violation of the UN Charter and international law" by India's Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish. He stressed the need for full protection of innocent civilians and condemned the airstrikes as a violation of the UN Charter and international law.
Border issues
India expresses concern over Pakistan's border actions
India also expressed "grave concern" over what it called Pakistan's "trade and transit terrorism." This was in reference to Islamabad's repeated closure of border access for Afghanistan, a landlocked country that relies heavily on cross-border movement for essential supplies. "Such open threats and acts of war against a fragile and vulnerable LLDC nation, trying to rebuild in difficult circumstances, constitute a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law," he said.
Sovereignty support
India reaffirms support for Afghanistan's sovereignty
While condemning Pakistan's actions, India reiterated its strong support for Afghanistan's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. Harish called for "pragmatic, coherent engagement with the Taliban," emphasizing that international policy should incentivize positive actions instead of just punitive measures. He also urged coordinated international efforts to prevent UN-designated terror entities from using Afghan territory for cross-border terrorism.
ConflictÂ
Border conflict began in early October
The border conflict began in early October, following a Pakistani airstrike on Kabul, which prompted Afghanistan to retaliate. The fighting coincided with the visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to India. It was the deadliest since the Taliban took power in 2021. Following weeks of fighting, the two parties agreed to a truce on October 19 after talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey.