News Brief
File photo of Pakistan Air Force's Chinese-made JF-17 fighter jet.
India on Monday (6 January) condemned the recent Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan civilians, in which over 40 people, including children and women were killed.
The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said that it has taken notes of the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians and "unequivocally" condemns "any attack on innocent civilians".
Further, the MEA also slammed Pakistan, saying that it was an "old practice" of Islamabad to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures.
"We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to media queries regarding the Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan civilians.
"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," Jaiswal added.
Following the Pakistani airstrikes, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan vowed retaliation.
"Afghanistan considers this brutal act a blatant violation of all international principles and an obvious act of aggression," stated Enayatullah Khowrazmi, a spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of National Defence.
He added, "The Islamic Emirate will not leave this cowardly act unanswered."