India sharply criticized Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on December 10, 2025, accusing it of perpetrating "trade and transit terrorism" against Afghanistan through repeated border closures that exacerbate the landlocked nation's humanitarian woes. Permanent Representative Harish Parvathaneni, addressing a briefing on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), echoed the mission's concerns over recent Pakistani airstrikes in eastern provinces like Khost and Kunar, which UNAMA reported killed at least 10 civilians—mostly children—and injured six others in late November. Parvathaneni condemned the strikes for claiming innocent lives, including women, children, and local cricketers, labeling them a "blatant violation of the UN Charter and international law." He emphasized India's longstanding advocacy for Afghan peace and stability, urging coordinated global action to shield civilians amid escalating cross-border tensions that have defined the region since the Taliban's 2021 takeover.

Parvathaneni's pointed remarks highlighted how Pakistan's "cynical closure of access" routes disrupts vital trade flows, contravening World Trade Organization (WTO) norms and hindering Afghanistan's fragile recovery from decades of conflict. This practice, he argued, subjects Afghans to economic strangulation, affecting farmers during harvest seasons and amplifying shortages of essentials like food and medicine in a country where over half the population faces acute hunger. India's stance aligns with its historical role as a major donor, having invested over $3 billion in Afghan infrastructure since 2001, including dams, roads, and schools, while navigating the Taliban's rule through pragmatic engagement without formal recognition.

The diplomat also issued a veiled rebuke at Pakistan's alleged support for cross-border terrorism, calling for the international community to dismantle networks enabling UN-designated groups like ISIL, Al-Qaida, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and LeT proxies such as The Resistance Front. These entities, Parvathaneni noted, exploit Afghan territory for attacks, underscoring the need to cut off their operational lifelines—a reference to Islamabad's historical accusations of harboring militants, now reversed by Kabul's denials of sheltering Pakistan-based Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). India's position reflects broader South Asian security dynamics, where New Delhi views Pakistan's Afghan policy as a proxy for anti-India activities, including past incursions in Kashmir.

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This UNSC intervention comes amid intensified Pakistan-Afghanistan skirmishes throughout 2025, the deadliest since the Taliban's return, with UNAMA documenting 37 civilian deaths and 425 injuries from cross-border violence in recent weeks alone. Clashes erupted in October after Pakistani airstrikes targeted TTP leaders in Kabul and Kandahar, prompting Taliban retaliation that killed dozens of soldiers on both sides and briefly seized border posts. Failed peace talks in Doha and Istanbul, mediated by Qatar and Turkey, have yielded only fragile ceasefires, as Islamabad blames Kabul for TTP safe havens fueling suicide bombings in Pakistan, while the Taliban accuses Pakistan of sovereignty violations. Border closures at key crossings like Chaman have compounded the crisis, stranding refugees and traders.

As Afghanistan grapples with economic collapse—exacerbated by frozen assets and sanctions—India reiterated its call for "pragmatic engagement" with the Taliban to deliver humanitarian aid and foster development, including resuming stalled projects like the Salma Dam. Parvathaneni stressed that regional cooperation is "paramount" for countering terrorism and rebuilding, positioning New Delhi as a stabilizing force in a volatile neighborhood. With the UNSC set to renew UNAMA's mandate in March 2026, India's forthright diplomacy signals a push for accountability, potentially influencing future resolutions on Afghan sovereignty and counter-terror financing.

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