New Delhi, February 22 (NationPress) - India has firmly condemned the airstrikes conducted by Pakistan on Afghan soil, which allegedly led to significant civilian casualties, including the deaths of women and children. India has reiterated its commitment to Afghanistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.

In response to media inquiries, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), expressed India's disapproval of the strikes and raised alarms regarding the civilian toll during the holy month of Ramadan.

"India unequivocally denounces Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghan territory that have caused civilian casualties, including women and children, amid the sacred month of Ramadan," MEA spokesperson Jaiswal stated.

He further characterized the situation as an effort by Pakistan to divert attention from its internal challenges.

"It represents another attempt by Pakistan to externalize its domestic failures," the MEA spokesperson remarked.

Reaffirming India's stance on Afghanistan, Jaiswal emphasized New Delhi's unwavering support for the nation’s sovereignty and independence.

"India reaffirms its commitment to Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence," he added.

This statement from the MEA follows reports of Pakistani airstrikes targeting regions within Afghanistan, which have reportedly resulted in civilian casualties and heightened concerns regarding the security situation.

Earlier on Sunday, Afghanistan's Ministry of National Defence accused the Pakistani military of executing lethal airstrikes in various residential areas of the Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, leading to the deaths of several civilians.

According to the Ministry, the airstrikes targeted a madrasa and numerous residential homes, resulting in the death and injury of "dozens of civilians," including women and children.

The infringement of Afghan airspace is part of what Kabul describes as ongoing acts of Pakistani aggression.

The Afghan Ministry denounced the attack vehemently, labeling it a flagrant violation of Afghanistan's national sovereignty and a clear contravention of international law, the principles of good neighborliness, and Islamic values.

Afgahnistan's Ministry of National Defence firmly stated that protecting the nation's sovereignty and the safety of its citizens is both a "religious obligation and a national duty," while warning that "a suitable and measured response will be forthcoming at the right time."

"Attacks on civilian populations and religious institutions serve as irrefutable proof of the intelligence and security failures of the Pakistani military, and such repeated acts of aggression cannot mask their internal deficiencies," the Ministry asserted.

The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) has raised concerns over verified reports of devastating airstrikes in the Behsud district of Nangarhar.

Referencing local sources, the rights organization stated that a Pakistani military strike hit a civilian residence, resulting in the deaths of at least 16 members of a single family.

The victims, which included men, women, and children, spanned ages from one year to 80 years.

"Two children remarkably survived the strike, and at least one other individual was hurt. This represents not merely a loss of life but the total devastation of a family lineage," the IHRF stated.

The rights organization called for an immediate, independent, and transparent international investigation into this airstrike.

Furthermore, it demanded accountability for those responsible for ordering and executing this attack, along with unrestricted humanitarian access to the affected families in Behsud.

In expressing solidarity with the people of Afghanistan, the IHRF urged respect for the rights and lives of Afghan civilians.