India Condemns Pakistan’s Airstrikes on Afghan Territory, Cites Civilian Casualties- India on Sunday (February 22, 2026) strongly condemned Pakistan’s reported airstrikes inside Afghan territory, saying the cross-border action had led to civilian casualties and heightened tensions in an already fragile region.
In an official statement, New Delhi expressed “deep concern” over the loss of innocent lives and called for restraint, urging all parties to respect sovereignty and avoid steps that could further destabilize the situation. The remarks came amid reports that Pakistani aircraft carried out targeted strikes along areas near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, allegedly aimed at militant hideouts.
According to Afghan sources, the strikes resulted in multiple civilian deaths and injuries, including women and children. Local officials described scenes of destruction in residential pockets, with homes damaged and families displaced. Emergency teams were deployed to affected districts as hospitals struggled to treat the wounded.
Pakistan has maintained that its military action was directed against terrorist elements responsible for attacks on its security forces and civilians. Islamabad has long accused militant groups operating from Afghan soil of staging cross-border assaults, a charge that has fueled tensions between the two neighbors for years. Afghan authorities, however, rejected the justification for the strikes, calling them a violation of national sovereignty.
India’s response reflects its broader position on regional security and counterterrorism. While reiterating its opposition to terrorism in all forms, New Delhi underscored the importance of addressing such threats through cooperative mechanisms rather than unilateral military measures that risk harming civilians.
“Civilian lives must never be collateral damage in counterterror operations,” India’s statement said, emphasizing the need for dialogue and adherence to international norms. Officials also stressed that actions undermining stability in Afghanistan could have far-reaching consequences for South Asia as a whole.
The airstrikes come at a sensitive time for Afghanistan, which continues to grapple with economic hardship, political uncertainty, and security challenges. Cross-border tensions have periodically flared along the porous frontier, particularly in regions where militant networks are believed to operate. Analysts warn that renewed military exchanges could further strain relations and complicate efforts to contain extremist violence.
Regional observers note that India’s condemnation also signals its continuing engagement with developments in Afghanistan. Over the past two decades, India has invested heavily in infrastructure, humanitarian assistance, and development projects across Afghan provinces. New Delhi has consistently advocated for a stable and sovereign Afghanistan free from external interference.
Security experts caution that cross-border military responses, while aimed at neutralizing immediate threats, often risk unintended consequences. Civilian casualties can inflame local resentment, create humanitarian crises, and provide propaganda opportunities for extremist groups. In fragile border zones, distinguishing between militant targets and civilian populations remains a significant operational challenge.
International reactions are expected as more details emerge about the scale and impact of the strikes. Human rights organizations have called for independent verification of casualty figures and urged transparency from all sides involved. The United Nations has previously emphasized the need to protect civilians in conflict settings and to ensure accountability where violations occur.
Meanwhile, diplomatic channels are likely to remain active as regional stakeholders assess the fallout. With tensions already simmering across multiple flashpoints in South Asia, observers say careful management of the crisis will be critical to preventing further escalation.
For India, the episode reinforces long-standing concerns about regional instability spilling across borders. As New Delhi continues to advocate for peaceful engagement and counterterror cooperation, the latest developments underscore the delicate balance between security imperatives and humanitarian considerations in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
Whether the incident leads to renewed dialogue or deeper discord between Islamabad and Kabul remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that civilian suffering has once again brought urgency to calls for restraint and responsible state conduct in the pursuit of security objectives.
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