‘Old habit of Pakistan’: India hits back over blame for Afghan border violence

New Delhi: India has strongly rebuked Pakistan after being accused of involvement in the recent cross-border clashes between Islamabad and Kabul, which have claimed several lives on both sides.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed Pakistan’s allegations, calling them part of its “old practice” of deflecting internal failures onto neighbouring countries.

Responding to media queries at the weekly press briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Pakistan’s record of supporting and hosting terrorist organisations is well known internationally. “Three things are clear. One, Pakistan hosts terrorist organisations and sponsors terrorist activities. Two, it is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. Three, Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories,” Jaiswal said.

He added that India remains “fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan,” reiterating New Delhi’s consistent support for peace and stability in the region.

Clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan erupted twice in a week, reportedly following Islamabad’s accusation that Kabul was harbouring militants responsible for recent attacks. The violence intensified after Afghan forces launched retaliatory strikes on Pakistani territory, leading to dozens of casualties, including both soldiers and civilians.

According to reports, the two sides later agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire, which both claimed was initiated at the other’s request. The renewed hostilities mark one of the most serious flare-ups along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in recent months, further straining relations between the two countries.

The latest confrontation began late Tuesday night when Afghan and Pakistani forces exchanged heavy fire along the border near the Spin Boldak-Chaman crossing. This came days after clashes over the weekend, reportedly triggered by Afghanistan’s retaliation for an attack in Kabul that it blamed on Pakistan-based elements.

Pakistan has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harbouring Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters, while Kabul has accused Islamabad of violating its sovereignty through cross-border shelling.

The escalating tension has drawn international concern, with regional observers warning that the conflict could destabilise efforts to restore security in Afghanistan and worsen humanitarian conditions along the frontier.

India’s statement marks one of its strongest responses in recent months, highlighting its position that Pakistan continues to use terrorism as a state policy while deflecting accountability by blaming others.