'We Unequivocally Condemn...': India Hits Out At Pakistan For Carrying Out Airstrikes Against Afghanistan

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday "unequivocally" condemned Pakistan's airstrikes inside Afghanistan's territory. While responding to media queries regarding Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghanistan, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called it "an old practice" of Pakistan to blame neighbours.

"We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost," Jaiswal said

"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," he added.

MEA's Response:

On December 26, Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province. In the attack, 46 people, including women and children lost their lives. Several people were also injured. The Afghan Taliban vowed to retaliate.

Pakistan claimed that its forces carried out targeted alleged camps of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province in December. Notably, Pakistan alleged that Afghan soil was being used to carry out cross-border attacks Islamabad also raised concerns with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, the TTP captured the Pakistani Army's outpost near the Afghanistan border in the tribal district of Bajaur in northwest Pakistan. However, Pakistan officials reportedly claimed that the post was vacated some time back.