Afghanistan’s Mission to the United Nations: Pakistan’s Attacks Violate Territorial Integrity

Afghanistan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations has described Pakistan’s recent attacks on parts of Paktia, Paktika and Kunar provinces as a “serious violation of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity,” saying the actions are inconsistent with the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. In a statement, the mission stressed that no security concern can justify military operations that harm civilians or violate the territorial integrity of a country, adding that the protection of civilians must remain a priority. The mission also said that the Taliban, through “repressive policies and failure to fulfil their commitments,” have contributed to the suffering of the Afghan people, but said this could never serve as a justification for unilateral attacks. Another part of the statement said Afghanistan should not become a battleground for conflicts arising from counterterrorism efforts and regional tensions, and called on the international community to act to prevent further escalation of the crisis. The mission urged the United Nations and the international community to closely monitor the situation and emphasise respect for Afghanistan’s sovereignty. It also called on Pakistan to halt the attacks. The statement comes as the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has reported that at least 28 civilians were killed and 49 others wounded in the attacks, including women and children among the casualties.