Quick Read
- Afghanistan claims Pakistan airstrikes hit a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, resulting in at least 400 deaths.
- Pakistan denies targeting civilian sites, stating its strikes were precise against military and terrorist infrastructure.
- The incident escalates ongoing border tensions, with international calls for a ceasefire largely unheeded.
KABUL, Afghanistan (Azat TV) – Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of launching a deadly airstrike late Monday on a hospital treating drug users in the capital, Kabul, claiming the attack killed at least 400 people and wounded approximately 250. The incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two neighbors, which has seen repeated cross-border clashes and airstrikes inside Afghanistan in recent weeks. International calls for a ceasefire have thus far been ignored.
Pakistan Denies Targeting Civilian Facilities
Pakistan has vehemently dismissed Afghanistan’s accusations, asserting that its strikes did not target any civilian sites. Pakistani officials stated that their operations, which also occurred in eastern Afghanistan, precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure, including equipment and ammunition storage used by Afghan Taliban and Pakistan-based militants. Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesman for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, called the allegations baseless. The Pakistani Ministry of Information issued a statement claiming the Afghan government’s narrative was “false and misleading,” intended to incite sentiment and mask “illegitimate support for cross-border terrorism.”
Devastation at Kabul Facility
Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, reported that the airstrike occurred around 9 p.m. local time, severely damaging large sections of the 2,000-bed facility. Footage shared on social media by local television stations showed security forces and firefighters working amidst the rubble of the destroyed building. Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid condemned the strike as a “crime against humanity,” accusing Pakistan of deliberately targeting hospitals and civilian areas. He emphasized that those killed and injured were patients at the facility.
Escalating Border Tensions
The strike followed hours after Afghan officials reported an exchange of fire along the shared border, which resulted in four fatalities in Afghanistan. This latest violence underscores the escalating tensions that have characterized the conflict, now in its third week. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has documented at least 75 deaths and 193 injuries in Afghanistan due to continuing cross-border fighting since February 26.
UN Calls for Counter-Terrorism Efforts
The incident also comes as the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling on Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to intensify their efforts against terrorism. Pakistan has long accused Kabul of harboring militant groups, particularly the Pakistani Taliban, which it claims are responsible for attacks within Pakistan. While the resolution did not name Pakistan, it strongly condemned all terrorist activities and extended the mandate of the U.N. political mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, for an additional three months.
International Diplomacy Amidst Conflict
China has engaged in diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaking with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts. Beijing has urged both nations to exercise restraint and engage in direct dialogue, calling for a ceasefire at the earliest opportunity. The area where the strike occurred, formerly a U.S. military base, had been repurposed by the Taliban government into a drug rehabilitation center, housing individuals rounded up from the capital.
The conflicting narratives and the significant civilian death toll claimed by Afghanistan highlight the precarious nature of the current Afghan-Pakistan relationship, where accusations of harboring militants and cross-border aggression are leading to devastating consequences for civilians, underscoring the urgent need for de-escalation and verified accountability.