India has sharply condemned Pakistan over a series of airstrikes conducted inside Afghanistan, in what New Delhi described as an attempt by Islamabad to deflect attention from its internal security failures. The strikes, carried out in the early hours of February 22, reportedly hit targets in Afghanistan’s eastern provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika, leaving at least 18 people dead and several others injured, according to Afghan authorities.

The development has added a new layer of volatility to an already fragile regional security landscape, raising concerns about the durability of a ceasefire agreement reached between Kabul and Islamabad in October 2025. For observers in South Asia, including policymakers and analysts in Bangladesh, the episode underscores how cross-border militancy and retaliatory doctrines continue to destabilize the wider region.

Speaking on February 22, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal condemned what he described as Pakistan’s “airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadhan.” His statement reflected not only humanitarian concern but also a broader strategic critique.

Jaiswal suggested that the strikes represented “another effort by Pakistan to externalize its internal failures.” The remark appeared to directly challenge Islamabad’s justification that the operation was a defensive, retributive action following a recent suicide bombing inside Pakistan.

India further reiterated its support for Afghanistan’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence,” reinforcing New Delhi’s consistent diplomatic position regarding non-interference and respect for internationally recognized borders.

Pakistan, for its part, defended the airstrikes as a necessary response to a series of deadly attacks on its soil. Most notably, a suicide bombing earlier this month targeted a Shiite place of worship, killing at least 31 people and injuring nearly........

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