India strongly condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes inside Afghanistan, calling them a serious violation of international law and a threat to regional peace. The remarks were made by India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, during a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Wednesday.

Parvathaneni expressed India’s deep concern over civilian casualties, saying India “echoes United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)’s concern over airstrikes and condemns the killing of innocent women, children, and cricketers in Afghanistan.” He also criticised Pakistan for its repeated closure of border access for Afghanistan, calling it “trade and transit terrorism.” He said, “We also note with grave concern the practice of ‘trade and transit terrorism’ that the people of Afghanistan are being subjected to by the cynical closure of access for a landlocked country whose people have been suffering numerous debilitating conditions for many years.”

The Indian envoy highlighted that such actions violate global trade norms and international law. He added, “These acts are in violation of WTO norms. Such open threats and acts of war against a fragile and vulnerable Land-Locked Developing Country (LLDC) nation, trying to rebuild in difficult circumstances, constitute a blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law. While we condemn such acts, we also strongly support the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence of Afghanistan.”

Parvathaneni further stressed India’s commitment to peace in Afghanistan, stating, “Over the years, India has been a strong advocate for peace and stability in Afghanistan. Coordinated regional and international cooperation on key issues concerning Afghanistan is paramount, as is strongly engaging relevant parties for promoting peace, stability, and development in the country.”

The Indian representative also urged the international community to curb cross-border terrorism. He said, “Entities and individuals designated by the UN Security Council, ISIL, and Al-Qaeda and their affiliates, including Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed and proxies of LeT such as the Resistance Front, along with those who facilitate their operations, must no longer indulge in cross-border terrorism.”

Parvathaneni’s remarks come amid ongoing border skirmishes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly after the Taliban takeover in 2021. Pakistan has alleged that Afghan-based militants carried out recent attacks in Pakistan, including suicide bombings, which Kabul has denied.

Efforts to mediate a lasting peace have faced challenges. A ceasefire agreed upon in Doha, Qatar, in September largely held, but follow-up peace talks in Istanbul last month failed to produce a long-term agreement.

India condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan as a breach of international law, criticised the closure of border access as “trade and transit terrorism,” and reiterated its support for Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and civilian protection. Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni emphasised coordinated international action against terrorism and called for sustained efforts to promote peace, stability, and development in Afghanistan.