India condemns Pakistan airstrikes in Afghanistan, calls them threat to regional stability

India expressed concern over civilian casualties caused by Pakistan's airstrikes in Afghanistan and described the operation as a threat to regional security

PGurus Newsdesk

June 30, 2026

India has strongly condemned Pakistan's airstrikes in Afghanistan, calling them a blatant act of aggression and a threat to regional peace and stability

New Delhi accuses Islamabad of violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty after strikes that Kabul says killed dozens of civilians

India on Tuesday strongly criticised Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan, describing them as a “blatant act of aggression” that threatens regional peace and stability.

The remarks came after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan over the weekend. The Taliban-led government in Kabul said the strikes hit three provinces, resulting in the deaths of 36 civilians and injuries to 163 others.

Pakistan has maintained that the strikes targeted militants linked to the recent attack on a military facility in Karachi, and put the death toll at 29, describing those killed as members of extremist groups. Afghan authorities have rejected Islamabad’s claim that Afghan territory is being used to shelter attackers.

India’s response

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India “strongly condemns” the airstrikes conducted by Pakistan during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.

“This blatant act of aggression by Pakistan is an assault on Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a direct threat to regional peace and stability. 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 said.

India also expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. The statement reiterated New Delhi’s support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Details of the strikes

The strikes marked one of the deadliest cross-border operations by Pakistan in recent months. The incident follows a period of heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, including a military confrontation earlier this year.

Residents in the affected provinces described scenes of devastation.

Adam Khan, a resident of Paktia province, told AFP that he witnessed injured children and grieving families at a local hospital following the strikes.

Community leader Amin Mangal said a strike in Paktika province hit a residential house and killed six people, including members of a family that relied on charity for survival.

Allegations of a ‘double-tap’ strike

Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, alleged that one of the locations in Paktia was struck twice after residents had rushed to rescue victims from the initial attack.

Pakistan’s military and the prime minister’s office have not publicly responded to the allegation.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the operation targeted Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a faction linked to the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The latest exchange has further strained already tense relations between the two neighbouring countries, with both sides offering sharply different accounts of the operation and its casualties.

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