India backs Afghanistan’s territorial integrity, condemns killing of civilians in border clashes with Pakistan
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong condemnation of the recent clashes along the Pakistan‑Afghanistan border, where Afghan civilians have reportedly been killed. In a Monday briefing, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen reports of border clashes in which several Afghan civilians have been killed. We condemn such attacks on innocent Afghan people. India strongly supports the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Afghanistan.”
The fighting, which has intensified over the weekend, saw Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanging heavy fire while each side accused the other of sparking the violence. The latest skirmish on December 5 followed Saudi Arabia’s renewed, but unsuccessful, effort to broker a ceasefire between Kabul and Islamabad.
On December 6, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid posted on X that Pakistani troops had launched attacks in Kandahar’s Spin Boldak district the previous night, prompting the Islamic Emirate forces to respond. He wrote, “Unfortunately, this evening the Pakistani side once again launched attacks towards Afghanistan in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar, prompting the Islamic Emirate forces to respond.”
Local officials in Spin Boldak confirmed that Afghan forces had a forceful retort after the overnight assault. They accused Pakistani troops of targeting civilians, resulting in five fatalities, five injuries, and significant damage to local property. Ali Mohammad Haqmal, district information head, said: “Pakistan targetted civilian infrastructure and the local population. In these attacks, five people were killed and five others injured. Pakistan initiated the aggression, prompting a response from Islamic Emirate forces. Although we halted the fighting, they continued striking civilian targets.”
A senior, unnamed Quetta official told the Dawn that the exchange of fire started around 10 pm on Friday and continued late into the night. Pakistani Chaman district hospital superintendent Muhammad Owais reported that three people, including a woman, were brought in with injuries.
Earlier attempts by Afghan and Pakistani negotiators, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, failed to agree on terms for a long‑term ceasefire. The border remains volatile, with Islamabad reportedly conducting multiple air raids inside Afghanistan over the past month.
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