‘Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations, blames neighbours’: India reaffirms solidarity with Afghanistan

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal

Amid intense cross-border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday launched an all-out attack at Pakistan, accusing it of supporting terrorist activities.

“We are closely monitoring the situation. Three things are clear – one that Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations and sponsors terrorist activities. Two, it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. Three, Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

“India remains fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan,” he added.

His remarks came after Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif accused Afghanistan's Taliban government of "fighting a proxy war" on behalf of India.

Khawaja alleged that Taliban’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi had made some ulterior “plans" during his recent six-day visit to India. The visit, which was his first to New Delhi, was officially centred on trade and bilateral relations.

Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire

A 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan came into effect late Wednesday after days of intense cross-border clashes that left dozens of soldiers and civilians dead.

According to Pakistan’s foreign office, "during this period, both sides will make sincere efforts to find a positive solution to this complex but solvable issue through constructive dialogue."

Taliban regime spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid confirmed on X that Afghan forces had been instructed to respect the truce "unless any aggression takes place."

Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes

The brief ceasefire came after a week of intense clashes between the two neighbours.

The Taliban had launched attacks along sections of Afghanistan’s southern border with Pakistan, prompting Islamabad to promise a forceful retaliation. Pakistan has accused Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban (TTP) militants, a charge the Afghan government rejects.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to bring “a lasting end to hostilities” to protect civilians, after days of fighting killed dozens of people in both countries and injured hundreds more.