New Delhi, Jan 6: India on Monday unequivocally condemned the cross-border airstrikes by Pakistan in Afghanistan’s Paktika province in which 46 civilians were killed, mostly women and children.

India also slammed Islamabad’s “practice” for blaming its neighbours for its own failures.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, in reference to the December 25 airstrikes conducted by Pakistan in Afghan territory:

“We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost.

“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.”

The Afghan Taliban regime in Kabul condemned the December 25 airstrikes and has vowed retaliation.

The Taliban said the Pakistani airstrikes targeted civilians, including women and children, while Islamabad claimed that the strikes were aimed at militant camps of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The Afghan Taliban regime also summoned Pakistan’s charge d’affaires in Kabul to lodge a formal protest over the airstrikes.

UNI