India on Thursday accused Pakistan of being “infuriated” by Afghanistan’s exercise of sovereignty and criticised Islamabad for treating cross-border terrorism with apparent impunity, as regional tensions escalate following failed talks and recent military encounters.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters that Pakistan’s posture is unacceptable to its neighbours and reiterated India’s full support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. “Pakistan seems to think that it has the right to practice cross-border terrorism with impunity. Its neighbours find it unacceptable,” he said.

The remarks came against the backdrop of a fresh round of Pakistan-Afghanistan talks in Turkey that ended without agreement. Islamabad has accused elements in Afghanistan of sheltering militants linked to attacks across the border, while Kabul has rejected demands to exert control over armed groups it says operate independently.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif issued stern warnings this week, saying the Afghan Taliban could “test the resolve of Islamabad at their own peril and doom” and claiming Pakistan need not use “a fraction” of its arsenal to retaliate. Afghan officials, in turn, vowed to respond strongly to any incursions, heightening fears of further escalation.

Regional analysts warn that the impasse risks destabilising border areas already strained by intermittent clashes. Afghanistan has repeatedly insisted on defending its territorial sovereignty and pushed back against demands perceived as infringing on its authority.

India, which has longstanding diplomatic and development ties with Afghanistan, has publicly backed Kabul’s right to manage its internal affairs and called for restraint from all parties. New Delhi has urged dialogue and diplomacy, even as it monitors developments along the Durand Line and neighbouring security dynamics.

With mistrust between Islamabad and Kabul deepening, observers say third-party mediation and confidence-building measures will be essential to prevent wider confrontation and to restore a degree of stability along the volatile frontier.