India Condemns Pakistani Air Strikes in Afghanistan During Ramadan

India has expressed strong condemnation of recent air strikes conducted by Pakistan in Afghanistan, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of civilians, including women and children. The strikes took place during the holy month of Ramadan, heightening tensions in the region.

According to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defence, dozens of innocent civilians were impacted by the strikes, particularly in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika. The ministry stated that these attacks occurred around midnight, targeting both residential areas and a school.

Sayed Tayeeb Hammad, a police spokesperson in Nangarhar, provided details of the incident, confirming that civilians were killed in the bombardment. "In one house, there were 23 family members," Hammad reported, adding that five injured individuals were rescued from the debris.

The ongoing military actions are a response from Pakistan to a series of suicide bombings it blames on armed groups allegedly operating from Afghan territory. However, the Afghan government has denied claims that it permits such activities from its soil.

The deteriorating ties between the two countries have been marked by an increasingly bitter conflict since the Taliban regained control over Afghanistan in 2021. A report from the United Nations mission in Afghanistan indicated that Pakistani military operations resulted in the deaths of at least 70 Afghan civilians between October and December of the previous year.

Despite several rounds of negotiations, a lasting resolution to the conflict remains elusive. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia intervened to mediate discussions regarding the release of three Pakistani soldiers who had been captured by Afghanistan in October.

The closure of the land border between Afghanistan and Pakistan has had serious repercussions for civilians in both nations, with many people unable to cross due to the ongoing tensions. Amidst these strained relations, the Afghan Defence Ministry announced plans to deliver an "appropriate and calculated response" to the recent Pakistani air strikes.

As the region grapples with the consequences of these military actions during a significant religious observance, calls for restraint and dialogue have intensified from several quarters, urging both governments to seek a more peaceful resolution to their disputes.