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 170 others. The attack was claimed by Islamic State – Khorasan Province, commonly known as ISKP, a regional affiliate of the Islamic State group.

Islamabad has long accused Kabul of failing to curb militant organizations operating from Afghan territory, particularly Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Pakistani officials argue that TTP fighters use safe havens across the border to launch attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban-led Afghan administration, however, has consistently rejected these allegations, insisting that it does not permit Afghan soil to be used for cross-border militancy.

The February 22 strikes now risk collapsing the ceasefire painstakingly negotiated just months earlier. That agreement had been intended to prevent further escalation after clashes in October 2025 that killed dozens on both sides in the worst violence since the Taliban’s return to power.

The Afghan Defense Ministry reacted swiftly and forcefully, condemning the airstrikes as “a breach of international law and the principles of good neighborliness.” It warned that the Pakistani military would be held responsible for targeting civilians and religious sites and promised a “measured and appropriate response.”

This rhetoric signals a dangerous phase in bilateral relations. Afghanistan’s ruling authorities, who have sought international legitimacy since the Taliban regained control in 2021, now face pressure to demonstrate resolve without triggering a broader military confrontation.

The Taliban’s return to power in 2021-following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces-dramatically reshaped regional alignments. Although India initially opposed the takeover, New Delhi has gradually recalibrated its approach. Diplomatic engagement has resumed, humanitarian aid has been extended, and practical cooperation has expanded.

Despite its earlier opposition to the Taliban’s ascendancy, India has cultivated increasingly warm ties with Kabul in recent years. This pragmatic shift reflects New Delhi’s desire to maintain strategic depth and counterbalance Pakistani influence in Afghanistan.

India’s emphasis on sovereignty and territorial integrity aligns with its broader regional doctrine, particularly concerning cross-border militancy. By condemning Pakistan’s strikes, New Delhi signals that unilateral military actions across international borders-especially those resulting in civilian casualties-undermine regional stability.

For India, the stakes are both strategic and reputational. Supporting Afghanistan’s sovereignty reinforces its image as a responsible regional power while simultaneously highlighting what it views as Pakistan’s destabilizing conduct.

The October 2025 ceasefire between Kabul and Islamabad had been seen as a rare moment of de-escalation in a relationship historically marked by mistrust. The recent strikes threaten to unravel that fragile progress.

Border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan are not new. Disputes over the Durand Line, militant infiltration, and refugee flows have periodically triggered skirmishes. However, the present escalation comes at a time when both governments face significant domestic challenges.

Pakistan continues to grapple with internal security threats, economic instability, and political fragmentation. Afghanistan, meanwhile, remains diplomatically isolated and economically strained. Renewed hostilities would likely exacerbate both countries’ vulnerabilities.

For South Asia as a whole, the confrontation raises broader questions about regional security architecture. Cross-border airstrikes, retaliatory threats, and militant violence risk creating a feedback loop that destabilizes neighboring states.

From a Bangladeshi perspective, the situation merits careful monitoring. Bangladesh has historically advocated for peaceful dispute resolution and non-interference in internal affairs. Escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan could indirectly impact regional trade routes, diplomatic alignments, and multilateral forums such as SAARC, which already struggles with internal divisions.

Moreover, the involvement of transnational militant networks underscores the interconnected nature of South Asian security threats. Groups like ISKP operate across porous borders, exploiting governance gaps and regional rivalries.

At the heart of the dispute lies a fundamental tension between counterterrorism doctrine and state sovereignty. Pakistan frames its actions as self-defense against cross-border terrorism. Afghanistan denounces them as violations of international law.

The debate mirrors global controversies over preemptive or retaliatory strikes across international boundaries. While states retain the right to defend themselves, the proportionality and legality of cross-border operations remain heavily contested in international law.

India’s condemnation places it firmly on the side of sovereignty-based norms, though its own security policies have at times involved assertive cross-border postures. This highlights the complex interplay between principle and strategic interest in regional diplomacy.

India’s denunciation of Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghanistan signals more than diplomatic disagreement; it reflects deep-seated rivalries, competing security narratives, and evolving regional alignments. The reported civilian casualties in Nangarhar and Paktika have intensified scrutiny of Islamabad’s tactics, while Kabul’s threat of retaliation raises the specter of renewed armed confrontation.

For South Asia, already burdened by political volatility and economic pressures, further escalation between Afghanistan and Pakistan would represent a destabilizing development with ripple effects across the region.

As events unfold, the durability of the October 2025 ceasefire and the capacity of regional actors to exercise restraint will determine whether this episode remains a contained crisis-or becomes the catalyst for a broader and more dangerous conflict.

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