India in February 2026: the most important developments in security
In India in February 2026, the most covered security story was a US court case. Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, pleaded guilty in New York on February 13 to charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy over a foiled plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh separatist based in the United States whom India designates a terrorist. The US Department of Justice said the plea relates to the foiled assassination attempt, and the FBI described the intended victim as a target of "transnational repression".
Defence procurement and strategy formed the next theme. India's Defence Acquisition Council approved the purchase of 114 Rafale fighter jets from France, with 90 to be built in India, as part of a broader $40 billion modernization effort that also includes Boeing P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the joint manufacture during a visit to India. Media reports said India cleared the purchase of S-400 missile systems, and the Indian Air Force showcased the system. Israel agreed to share Iron Dome technology with India. On February 23 India unveiled its first national anti-terrorism policy, PRAHAAR, which includes a framework for cyber threats. India also joined naval exercises with Russian and Iranian ships.
Relations with Pakistan remained tense. India's foreign ministry rejected Pakistan's allegation of Indian involvement in a bombing at a Shia meeting hall in Islamabad, saying Pakistan was "deluding itself", and India and Afghanistan jointly condemned the attack. Pakistan extended its closure of airspace to Indian aircraft until March 23. Indian forces killed a senior Jaish-e-Mohammad commander in Jammu and Kashmir. President Donald Trump claimed that ten aircraft were shot down in the earlier India-Pakistan conflict and credited his tariff policies with ending it. Pakistan carried out airstrikes inside Afghanistan, according to reports.
In Punjab, Lucky Oberoi, a leader of the AAP party, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Jalandhar. Two police officers were killed at an outpost, and an intelligence alert about a possible attack was under review. Iran released eight Indian crew members of a UAE-based vessel it had detained in December.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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