India on Tuesday condemned Pakistan’s airstrikes on border areas of Afghanistan, which Afghan officials said killed civilians, warning that such “aggression” against a sovereign neighbour threatens regional peace and security.

“We strongly condemn the attacks from Pakistan, the air strikes which were launched on Afghanistan in Kunar and Paktika provinces. In these air strikes, several civilians have been killed,” Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

“Such instances of aggression against a sovereign neighbour is something that goes against regional peace and security,” he added.

Jaiswal also reaffirmed India’s support for Afghanistan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and expressed condolences for those killed and hopes for the recovery of the injured.

Afghan officials said the strikes killed three civilians and injured four others, and damaged structures including houses and shops. Pakistan’s information ministry, however, said the strikes killed 28 militants.

The strikes were reportedly carried out in retaliation for a militant attack on a police facility in northwestern Pakistan that killed 24 people on Friday. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said Kabul would respond to what he described as Pakistani aggression.

The United Nations has reiterated its call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law after at least three civilians were killed and four others injured in apparent airstrikes in Afghanistan’s eastern Kunar province.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said at the UN Daily Press Briefing on Monday that the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) had confirmed the civilian casualties following the reported strikes early Monday.

The victims included a man, a woman and a girl, according to UNAMA.

“We reiterate our call for respect for international humanitarian law to prevent civilian casualties,” Dujarric said, adding that the United Nations continues to monitor the situation closely.

Dujarric also said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) had received reports of airstrikes in Barmal district of Paktika province, where residential structures were reportedly damaged. No serious civilian casualties had been reported there, he added.

The UN said UNAMA has documented more than 1,100 civilian deaths and injuries in Afghanistan so far this year linked to cross-border armed violence.

The comments followed Pakistan’s announcement that it had carried out what it described as “calibrated” strikes against militant targets along the border with Afghanistan. Pakistan said 28 militants were killed and claimed the targets included militant hideouts and a training facility.

Afghan authorities have condemned the strikes. Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Pakistan’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul and lodged a formal protest, while Afghan officials have rejected Pakistan’s allegations that attacks inside Pakistan are being carried out from Afghan territory.

The latest escalation has renewed concerns over the impact of cross-frontier hostilities on civilians in Afghanistan’s border provinces, with the UN again stressing the need for all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law and take measures to protect civilians.

A group of 22 Russian tourists has arrived in Afghanistan’s northeastern Badakhshan province to explore the scenic Wakhan District and other major tourist attractions in the region.

According to Zohurullah Fakhri, an official with the state-run Afghan Tour company in Badakhshan, the group entered the province through Panjshir and Kiran wa Manjan district before travelling toward Wakhan.

The visitors are expected to explore several of Badakhshan’s natural landscapes and tourism sites during their stay.

The arrival comes as the Islamic Emirate seeks to expand Afghanistan’s tourism sector and attract more international visitors. The Ministry of Information and Culture has said it is working to improve tourism facilities and services, standardise the sector and promote Afghanistan’s natural, historical and cultural attractions.

Officials have also reported a rise in foreign visitors to Badakhshan. State-owned Afghan Tour said it facilitated visits by over 150 foreign tourists to the province during the second quarter of 2026, with visitors travelling to historical, archaeological and natural attractions.

Wakhan Corridor

The Wakhan Corridor is a narrow, remote strip of northeastern Afghanistan that extends eastward through Badakhshan to Afghanistan’s border with China. It lies between Tajikistan to the north and Pakistan to the south and forms part of the historic routes linking Central and South Asia.

The region is characterised by rugged mountains, high-altitude valleys, glaciers, rivers and wide open landscapes. The Hindu Kush and Pamir mountain systems meet in the area, which is also known for its distinctive wildlife, including Marco Polo sheep, ibex and snow leopards.

Wakhan has historically been one of Afghanistan’s most isolated regions because of its difficult terrain and limited road access. In May, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development said basic construction work on the Wakhan road had been completed, providing a direct land connection between Afghanistan and China, although further work remained under way.

The combination of its dramatic mountain scenery, wildlife and location along an ancient Central Asian route has made Wakhan one of Afghanistan’s emerging destinations for adventure and nature tourism.