Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict: The longstanding border dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan has now turned into an "open war". The ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Qatar between the two neighbouring countries has collapsed, with both sides launching attacks on each other's border posts along the Durand line. Pakistan has launched "Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq" against Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban of "unprovoked attacks".
The escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have also put the spotlight on their common neighbour, India, and its position on the matter. While New Delhi has not yet issued an official statement on the latest developments, its previous stances reflect strong criticism of any attack on Afghanistan's sovereignty. India's position has always been closely watched, given its contrasting relationships with both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
India has been exploring new possibilities with the Taliban-led Afghan government. This engagement was further strengthened by Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's visit to New Delhi last year, which marked the Taliban's highest-level outreach to India since seizing power in 2021. In his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Muttaqi also condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, signalling support for action against cross-border terrorism.
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India's Relation With Afghanistan
While India's relatively soft approach towards Afghanistan reflects its "neighbourhood-first" policy, its relationship with Pakistan remains severely strained. The ties deteriorated further after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, which triggered military escalation. India responded with "Operation Sindoor" in Pakistani provinces, targeting terrorists and their hideouts.
There have also been instances in the past when India openly supported Afghanistan during periods of heightened tension. In October 2025, during a major escalation, India criticised Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism and then blaming its neighbours. At that time, India extended support to Afghanistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.
"Three things are clear – one, that 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, and three, Pakistan is infuriated with Afghanistan exercising sovereignty over its own territories," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said.
Similarly, New Delhi denounced the deaths of Afghan civilians during clashes last year in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika. "India strongly condemns Pakistan's airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadan. It is another attempt by Pakistan to externalise its internal failures," the official statement from MEA stated.
Moreover, India rebutted Pakistan's allegations during the Pak-Afghan military escalation that coincided with Muttaqi's visit to India in October last year. Islamabad had claimed that "Indian proxies" were operating from Afghan territory to target Pakistan, but India dismissed these allegations as "baseless."