ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson on Sunday urged India to refrain from stoking “terrorism” from Afghan soil, rejecting New Delhi’s criticism of its cross-border military operations in Afghanistan.
India’s External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Shri Randhir Jaiswal on Saturday criticized Pakistan’s airstrikes in Afghanistan, blaming Islamabad for the “death of civilians and destruction of civilian infrastructure.”
Pakistan has carried out airstrikes and military operations in Afghanistan. Islamabad claims it has killed more than 660 Afghan Taliban operatives in clashes since fighting between the two countries broke out late last month. Islamabad accuses New Delhi of supporting militant outfits in Afghanistan, blaming them for attacks in Pakistan that target law enforcers and civilians. Afghanistan and India both deny these allegations.
Responding to Jaiswal’s statement, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad was carrying out “legitimate, targeted and precise actions” against militant hideouts in Afghanistan.
“India is in no position to make such statements and must instead focus on refraining from stoking terrorism inside Pakistan from Afghan soil,” he said in a statement.
