Afghanistan FM Assures EAM Jaishankar: No Room for Distrust in India Ties

On Thursday night, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister, and appreciated the condemnation of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam by the Afghan regime.

He also welcomed the strong condemnation by Afghanistan of attempts to instill distrust between Kabul and New Delhi.

Breaking the news on X, EAM Jaishankar tweeted, "Good conversation with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi this evening. Deeply appreciate his condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack."

He also stated, "Welcomed his firm rejection of recent attempts to create mistrust between India and Afghanistan by means of false and unfounded reports. Underlined our long-standing friendship with the people of Afghanistan and continued support for their developmental needs. Discussed means and ways of furthering cooperation."

Afghanistan had previously dismissed Pakistan's claims that India had conducted missile attacks in its territory, labeling the allegations as "baseless" and "unfounded.".

In a May 10 interview with the Afghan media outlet Hurriyat Radio, Enaitullah Khawarzmi, Afghanistan's Defence Ministry spokesman, outrightly denied Pakistan's allegations as untrue.

Kabul reacted within hours of Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also rejecting Pakistan's allegations as "totally frivolous" and "ludicrous accusations.".

Responding to a special media briefing on Operation Sindoor, during which he was joined by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Misri reminded one of the Afghan nation's creator of destabilization. "There is this again completely absurd allegation that Indian missiles have hit Afghanistan. Completely frivolous allegation," he stated. And I simply would like to remind the citizens of Afghanistan that they don't need to be reminded whose country it is, that on a number of occasions, in just the last one and a half years, has attacked civilian populations and civilian infrastructure in Afghanistan. The Afghan government had earlier shown concern over the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the horrific Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives.

In a diplomatic statement, Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry was worried about the escalating conflict, with the condition that further hostilities would not be in the region's interest.

"Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned at India-Pakistan tensions rising, as it sees further escalation as not being in the region's interest. Again, Afghanistan believes that security and stability are in the shared interests of all the region's countries.". Meanwhile, it urges both sides to exercise restraint and resolve their conflict through diplomacy and dialogue," the statement stated.