New Delhi: India has strongly condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan which killed dozens of people in Afghan territory.
“We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesman, India’s Ministry of External Affairs, on Monday.
India further added, “We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians. It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. We have also noted the response of an Afghan spokesperson in this regard.”
Afghanistan’s Taliban government claimed that over 50 people including women and children were killed in Pakistan airstrikes in Paktika province on December 24 last year.
Why Pakistan targeted Afghanistan
Pakistan army claimed that it hit targets of Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or Pakistan Taliban, who allegedly carried out attacks in Pakistan territory, and sought refuge in Afghanistan. The rare strikes killed over 50 people including women and children and angered local Afghan residents in Paktika province. It is alleged that the Pakistan attack killed at least five members of a family in Laman village in Paktika.
Following Pakistan strikes, tension escalated between Afghan Taliban and Pakistan which resulted in cross-border strikes between the two nations.
