India, Pakistan trade accusations amid Taliban clashes

Regional tensions linked to the Taliban-Pakistan clashes intensified over the past 24 hours as India and Pakistan exchanged sharp statements, while China said it is attempting to mediate between the two sides.

India condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes inside Afghanistan, accusing Islamabad of violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement that the strikes resulted in civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

“India condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghan territory that have led to the loss of civilian lives and the destruction of civilian infrastructure,” Jaiswal said. “This action is yet another example of Pakistan’s violation of the sovereignty of another country and its continued hostility toward the idea of a sovereign and independent Afghanistan.”

India also reiterated that Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity should be fully respected.

Within hours, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry responded strongly, accusing India of supporting militant groups and aligning itself with the Taliban against Pakistan.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said India has a history of supporting militant organizations operating from Afghanistan’s territory.

“India’s continued support for terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan is well known,” Andrabi said, adding that India’s criticism reflects frustration over what he described as the dismantling of militant networks.

The fighting between Pakistan and Taliban has largely centered on the presence of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group that Islamabad says are given shelter by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Taliban have repeatedly denied the allegation.

Pakistan has also claimed that India, its longtime regional rival, is cooperating with the Taliban against Pakistan — an accusation both India and Taliban reject.

Meanwhile, China says it is attempting to help reduce tensions between the two sides.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently held a phone call with Taliban foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, and that China’s special envoy for Afghanistan is traveling between Kabul and Islamabad to mediate.

“China hopes both sides will remain calm and exercise restraint, hold face-to-face talks as soon as possible, reach a ceasefire at the earliest opportunity and resolve their differences through dialogue,” Lin said.

Diplomatic and regional sources say, however, that given the scale of tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban, China’s mediation efforts are unlikely to produce quick results.

In recent days, several other countries have also engaged with both sides in attempts to ease the crisis. Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have previously hosted discussions aimed at reducing tensions, though those efforts have so far failed to produce a breakthrough.

Residents on both sides of the border say they are increasingly worried about the worsening situation and have called on the United Nations and other countries to help end the fighting and prevent further attacks on civilian areas.