New Delhi has accused Islamabad of externalizing its internal failures by attacking its neighbor

India has condemned Pakistan over its airstrikes in neighboring Afghanistan that reportedly killed at least 18 people and left several others injured.

The attack, which Islamabad defended as a “retributive response” to a recent suicide bombing, was carried out in the early hours of Sunday in the eastern Afghan provinces of Nangarhar and Paktika.

“India strongly condemns Pakistan’s airstrikes on Afghan territory that have resulted in civilian casualties, including women and children, during the holy month of Ramadhan,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on Sunday.

In what appeared to be a reference to Islamabad’s defending of the attacks, Jaiswal said, “it is another effort by Pakistan to externalize its internal failures.”

❗️India 'strongly condemns' Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan

New Delhi has reiterated its support for Afghanistan's "sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence." pic.twitter.com/VN9N61iyWy

— RT_India (@RT_India_news) February 23, 2026

Pakistan said the strikes were in response to recent suicide bombings in its territory, including one at a Shiite place of worship earlier this month that killed at least 31 people and injured nearly 170. Islamic State – Khorasan Province has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Saturday strikes pose a major challenge to the ceasefire agreed to between Kabul and Islamabad in October 2025.

The neighboring states clashed in October, killing dozens, in the worst violence since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021.

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The escalation was attributed to border security and militant activity. Islamabad accused Kabul of sheltering Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters, allegations that the Taliban administration has dismissed.

On Monday, the Afghan Defense Ministry threatened retaliation after the Pakistani strikes, which it called “a breach of international law and the principles of good neighborliness.”

The ministry added, “We hold the Pakistani military responsible for targeting civilians and religious sites. We will respond to these attacks in due course with a measured and appropriate response.”

Although India opposed the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, New Delhi and Kabul now enjoy warm relations.

“India reiterates its support for Afghanistan’s “sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence,” Jaiswal said on Sunday.