Morning Digest: Afghanistan strikes Pakistan in latest escalation of violence; Hillary Clinton quizzed on Epstein, calls for Trump to testify, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest February 27, 2026

Afghanistan’s military launched an attack on Thursday (February 26, 2026) on Pakistan to retaliate for Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan border areas earlier in the week, claiming to have captured more than a dozen Pakistani army posts in the latest escalation of violence between the volatile neighbours. Pakistan’s government, which had described Sunday’s airstrikes as an attack on militants harboured in the area, confirmed clashes were taking place on Thursday (February 26, 2026) along the border but dismissed claims that army posts had been captured. It called Afghanistan’s attacks on Thursday unprovoked.

Hillary Clinton used her appearance on Thursday (February 26, 2026) before a Republican-led panel probing Jeffrey Epstein to go on the offensive and demand U.S. President Donald Trump testify about his own links to the sex offender. Ms. Clinton told the congressional committee she had no information about Epstein’s crimes, never recalled encountering him, and had never visited his island or flown on his plane, accusing the panel of trying to “protect one public official” — Trump.

The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 26, 2026) said there was a “deep-rooted conspiracy” behind the “very, very calculated move” to portray the judiciary as a venal institution in a Class 8 Social Science textbook. The textbook was published by the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, in February.

The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 26, 2026) asked the Environment Ministry and other stakeholders to suggest names of domain experts for the panel which would define the Aravalli hills and ranges and observed that only lawful mining would be allowed in the region. The top court, on December 29, took note of the outcry over the new definition of the Aravallis and kept in abeyance its November 20 directions that accepted a uniform definition of these hills and ranges. It also stalled all mining activities.

Congress MLAs in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Thursday (February 26, 2026) alleged irregularities in the land acquisition and compensation for a coal block allotted to the Adani Group in Singrauli district, and demanded a joint House committee to investigate the matter. The demand, raised by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar, led to intense discussions and arguments between the Treasury and Opposition benches, which further led to the Congress MLAs staging a walkout from the House. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (February 27, 2026) met with members of the Indian-origin Jewish community and termed their “remarkable contributions” to Israel as a “living bridge” between the two nations. There are approximately 85,000 Jews of Indian origin in Israel as of 2023, according to the Indian Embassy at Tel Aviv. “Interacted with members of the Indian Jewish community. Their deep-rooted connection to India and their remarkable contributions to Israel stand as a living bridge between our two nations,” Mr. Modi said in a post on X after he met and interacted with prominent members of the Indian-origin Jewish community.