The Government of India on Sunday, 22 February 2026, strongly condemned the reported airstrikes carried out by Pakistan within Afghan territory, stating that the attacks resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, and amounted to an attempt by Islamabad to “externalise its internal failures,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement.

Responding to media queries, the ministry reiterated India’s support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. The condemnation came after reports that Pakistan conducted air operations in eastern Afghanistan targeting what Islamabad described as militant hideouts allegedly linked to recent attacks inside Pakistan.

While Pakistan claimed the strikes were intelligence-based efforts against fighters blamed for domestic violence, Afghan authorities rejected these assertions and said the actions violated Afghanistan’s airspace and caused harm to innocent civilians. The airstrikes also occurred during the holy month of Ramadan, intensifying humanitarian concerns in the region.

The development has raised diplomatic tensions between the neighbouring countries at a time when regional stability remains fragile.

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