Afghan Drone Attack: An Act of Aggression and Support for Terrorism: Chinese scholar

BEIJING, March 15 (APP)::  Afghanistan’s recent attempt to target military facilities near Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, using drones constitutes a blatant act of aggression against a sovereign state. This move flagrantly violates international law and gravely undermines regional peace and stability. Such a reckless and provocative act has also aggravated the already strained ties between the two neighboring countries, which share profound historical and cultural bonds.

These views were expressed by Prof Cheng Xizhong, Senior Research Fellow at the Charhar Institute, a non-governmental Chinese think-tank on diplomacy and international studies based in Beijing.

He remarked that it is crucial to emphasize that there is an essential difference between the military operations conducted by Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan’s cross-border military operations are aimed at combating terrorism, whereas Afghanistan’s cross-border military operations constitute a serious violation of the sovereignty of another sovereign state and amount essentially to supporting terrorist activities.

As a sovereign nation, Pakistan possesses the inherent and inalienable right to defend its territorial integrity, national security, and the safety of its people. The Afghan drone attack was not merely a direct provocation; it represented a dangerous escalation that could trigger a cycle of retaliation and plunge the entire region into deeper chaos.

Prof Cheng said that the South Asian region has long been victim of terrorism, and cross-border tensions, and such unprovoked attacks only fan the flames of conflict. Beyond endangering the lives and property of innocent civilians, these acts undermine long-standing efforts to promote regional cooperation, mutual trust, and peaceful coexistence among neighboring states. The international community must firmly condemn this act of aggression, urge Afghanistan to immediately cease all hostile actions and respect Pakistan’s sovereignty.

Upholding regional peace and stability is a shared responsibility of all countries in the region and the wider international community. In an era of growing interdependence, no country can achieve security and development in isolation. Only by unwaveringly respecting national sovereignty and territorial integrity, abandoning the zero-sum mindset, and committing to peaceful negotiation and mutual accommodation can we build a secure, stable, and prosperous future for the people of South Asia and advance lasting peace in the region, he added.