India has strongly condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes on Afghan territory, terming them as “blatant violations” of international law, the UN Charter and the principle of state sovereignty. India has also raised concerns at the UN about trade and transit restrictions affecting the landlocked country.
Delivering India’s statement to the UN Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan on Monday (local time), Indian representative Harish Parvathaneni criticized the strikes, which he said had caused heavy civilian casualties and displacement.
Read also | Karachi 100 index falls more than 2% as US asks consulate staff to leave Pakistan
“India strongly condemns the airstrikes on Afghan territory, which are a flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter and the principle of state sovereignty,” Parvathaneni said in a statement.
The statement comes on the day that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally designated Afghanistan as a state sponsor of unlawful detention, paving the way for the Trump administration to impose restrictions such as sanctions and export controls as punishment for the arbitrary detention of Americans by the Taliban.
“The Taliban continue to use terrorist tactics, kidnapping individuals for ransom or seeking political concessions. These despicable tactics must stop,” Rubio said in a statement announcing the decision.
“Hypocritical to invoke the principles of international law”
Parvathaneni said it was “hypocritical” to invoke the principles of international law and Islamic solidarity in carrying out strikes during the holy month of Ramadan, which resulted in heavy civilian casualties.
Citing figures from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Parvathaneni said that as of March 6, 2026, at least 185 innocent civilians had been killed, about 55 percent of whom were women and children, while more than 100,000 people had been displaced.
Last month, Pakistan attacked the Afghan capital of Kabul, the city of Kandahar, home to Taliban leaders, and other cities. Pakistan’s defense minister has declared “open war” with the Taliban government in Afghanistan, a major escalation between the neighboring countries. The attacks were his first direct targeting of the Afghan government over allegations that the sanctuary harbored militants seeking to overthrow the Islamabad government. The rulers of the Afghan Taliban said last Friday they were willing to act after Pakistan bombed their forces in major cities.
At the UN Security Council meeting, Parvathaneni also raised concerns about restrictions affecting Afghanistan’s trade and transit routes, warning that such actions exacerbate the vulnerability of landlocked developing countries.
“We reiterate our grave concern over the practices of trade and transit terrorism by denying the passage of trade and cynically closing access for a landlocked country,” he said.
The UN High Commissioner added that UN declarations on landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) “ring hollow” if such actions continue, adding that LLDCs’ trade and transit vulnerabilities should not be exploited. These actions violate World Trade Organization standards as well as provisions of the UN Charter and international law, he said.
Indian support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty
The Indian envoy also reiterated that India supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. “We reaffirm our support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan,” Parvathaneni said.
Parvathaneni also emphasized that terrorism remains a major global threat and called for coordinated international action against terrorist groups operating in the region.
“Terrorism remains a global scourge afflicting humanity and only a coordinated effort by the international community would ensure that ISIL and Al-Qaeda and their affiliates, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, and their proxies such as the Resistance Front, along with those who facilitate their operations, no longer indulge in cross-border terrorism.”
In February, India strongly condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghan territory, saying the attacks during the holy month of Ramadan claimed civilian lives, including women and children.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “India strongly condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory, which claimed civilian lives, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan.”
“This is yet another attempt by Pakistan to externalize its internal failures. India reiterates its support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan,” the MEA said.
India’s close relations with its neighbour
At the UN Security Council, Parvathaneni also highlighted India’s history of close relations with its next-door neighbor Afghanistan, “which leads us today in a situation where the proud Afghan people need the world’s help”.
With more than 500 development partnership projects in all 34 provinces of India, it is deepening engagement in health, public infrastructure and capacity building, he said.
Read also | Afghan Taliban call for dialogue amid border conflict with Pakistan
“We are making significant progress in supporting health care. In the last 3 months, 1 million doses of immunization vaccines and 9.5 tons of anti-cancer drugs have been delivered. Other areas include food security, the fight against narcotics and earthquake relief, and education for both men and women,” said the UN envoy.
It is hypocritical to invoke the principles of international law and Islamic solidarity to carry out strikes during the holy month of Ramadan, which have resulted in heavy civilian casualties.
The envoy noted that the Afghanistan cricket team won hearts wherever they played. “Their passion at the recently concluded ICC 2026 FIFA World Cup was remarkable. India is proud to be a part of their journey. India’s history of close ties with its neighbor, Afghanistan, guides us even today, in a situation where the proud Afghan people need the world’s help,” he said.
With more than 500 development partnership projects in all 34 provinces of India, it is deepening engagement in health, public infrastructure and capacity building, he said.
Key things
- India strongly supports Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid rising tensions.
- The humanitarian impact of conflicts, especially on women and children, must be a priority.
- International cooperation is essential for the fight against terrorism and compliance with international law.
