The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday, 9 June reaffirmed New Delhi's commitment to peace, stability, and development in Afghanistan, citing enduring civilisational ties between the two nations and underscoring India's ongoing humanitarian and development cooperation with the Afghan people.

India's Statement at UNAMA Briefing

Speaking at his weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referenced India's statement delivered at the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) briefing in New York the previous day. He noted that India's Permanent Representative (PR) had reiterated the depth of the bilateral relationship at the session.

'India and Afghanistan are contiguous neighbours. As civilisational states, our ties have spanned centuries. We stand in favor of peace and stability in Afghanistan and in the region so as to foster development and stability in the region,' Jaiswal stated, paraphrasing India's position at the UN meeting.

Jaiswal also highlighted India's active development cooperation with Afghanistan, covering food security, medicine, pharmaceutical support, and health. He added that many of these programmes are gender-inclusive, benefiting women and children, and that scholarships and capacity-building programmes for Afghan citizens would continue.

India Condemns Pakistan's Air Strikes on Afghanistan

On Monday, India's Permanent Representative P. Harish delivered a pointed rebuke of Pakistan at the UN Security Council during a discussion on the situation in Afghanistan. Harish condemned Pakistan's attempts to question the intent of UNAMA and the veracity of UN Secretary-General António Guterres' report on Afghanistan.

'We would like to stress that support for multilateralism and the United Nations is not an a la carte menu,' Harish said, pushing back against what India characterised as selective engagement with international norms.

Harish called Pakistan's air strikes on Afghanistan during the holy month of Ramadan — even as Islamabad publicly espoused principles of international law and Islamic solidarity — the 'perfect example of hypocrisy.' India described Pakistan's violence against its neighbour as 'unconscionable.'

India's Calls for Accountability and Civilian Protection

India reiterated the UN Secretary-General's deep concern over civilian casualties resulting from air strikes, cross-border firing, and targeted killings, as detailed in UNAMA reports. New Delhi expressed support for the Secretary-General's call urging full compliance with international law, including international humanitarian law.

India also backed UNAMA's earlier calls for independent investigations to ensure accountability, prevent recurrence, and uphold the rights of victims — a position that implicitly holds Pakistan responsible for documented civilian harm.

Context and What It Signals

India's dual posture — affirming development partnership with Afghanistan while confronting Pakistan at the Security Council — reflects a calibrated diplomatic strategy. This comes amid Pakistan's reported escalation of cross-border military action into Afghan territory, which has drawn international criticism. Notably, India's development cooperation with Afghanistan has continued despite the Taliban's return to power in 2021, signalling a pragmatic approach that prioritises the welfare of the Afghan people over political recognition. The MEA's reiteration of this position at a multilateral forum reinforces New Delhi's intent to remain a constructive stakeholder in Afghanistan's stability.