'Old practice': India slams Pak for Af strikes

INDIA on Monday "unequivocally" condemned the Pakistani attack on civilians in Afghanistan, describing it as Islamabad's "old practice" of blaming its neighbours for its internal failures.

- JAYANTH JACOB @ New Delhi

Kabul has claimed that Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan's Paktika province on December 24 last year led to the deaths of at least 51 people, including women and children.

Responding to media queries regarding airstrikes on Afghan civilians, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have noted the media reports on airstrikes on Afghan civilians, including women and children, in which several precious lives have been lost. We unequivocally condemn any attack on innocent civilians. It is an old practice of Pakistan to blame its neighbours for its own internal failures. We have also noted the response of an Afghan spokesperson in this regard."