India Slams Pakistan at the UN, Calls Attacks on Afghan Civilians “Crimes of War”

India issued a sharp and unequivocal condemnation of Pakistan‘s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Thursday. Terming the attacks a grave violation of global norms, New Delhi emphasized that the bombings – which killed women, children, and even local cricket players – represent a deeply troubling pattern of behavior that undermines peace and stability in the region.

The renewed clashes erupted earlier this week between Taliban and Pakistani forces, marking a fresh escalation less than two months after both sides had agreed to a fragile ceasefire aimed at ending weeks of intense border conflict. Each government accused the other of breaking the truce, further worsening tensions along the already volatile frontier.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, voiced strong concern over what he termed Pakistan’s “trade and transit terrorism,” highlighting Islamabad’s repeated blocking of essential border access to landlocked Afghanistan. He stressed that such actions severely affect Afghan civilians who continue to suffer under difficult humanitarian conditions.

“We add our voice to calls for full respect to the United Nations Charter and international law, with particular attention to the protection of innocent civilians,” Harish said, urging the global body to take the matter seriously.

Harish further noted that “the cynical closure of access for a landlocked country whose people have endured debilitating hardships for many years is a clear violation of WTO norms.” He added that overt threats and military aggression directed at an “LLDC nation trying to rebuild under adverse conditions constitute a blatant breach of the UN Charter and established principles of international law.”

#IndiaAtUN PR @AmbHarishP made a statement today at the UN Security Council briefing regarding the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. Complete statement: link removed for formatting – India at the United Nations, New York (@IndiaUNNewYork), December 10, 2025.

Reaffirming India’s consistent position, Harish stated, “We strongly support Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence, even as we unequivocally condemn such acts that threaten regional peace.”

The border dispute had intensified earlier this year when Afghanistan retaliated against a Pakistani bombing in Kabul. The situation worsened even further while Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was on an official visit to India. This surge in violence marked the most severe fighting since the Taliban took control in 2021.

After weeks of armed confrontation, Qatar and Turkey facilitated negotiations that culminated in a ceasefire on October 19. However, tensions flared again with the most recent bombings, which Afghan officials claim were initiated by Pakistan – forcing Kabul to respond.

Harish also highlighted India’s continued monitoring of the evolving security environment, urging decisive global efforts to dismantle UN-designated terrorist organizations such as ISIL, Al-Qaida, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and proxies including The Resistance Front.

He noted that sanctions and punitive measures alone have not yielded the desired outcomes and advocated for “pragmatic engagement” with the Taliban leadership. “A balanced policy approach should incentivize constructive actions,” Harish said. “We urge the UN and the international community to adopt expert-driven, well-calibrated strategies that deliver sustainable, long-term benefits for the Afghan people.”