By Blessing Nweke
Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of carrying out a devastating airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, killing at least 400 people and injuring about 250 others, in what officials describe as one of the deadliest incidents in the ongoing conflict between the neighboring countries.
Afghan authorities said the strike occurred late Monday evening, destroying large sections of the 2,000-bed facility in the capital. Deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat stated that rescue teams worked through the night to extinguish fires and recover bodies from the rubble. Footage circulating on local media showed emergency responders navigating the ruins with flashlights as flames engulfed parts of the building.
Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the attack, accusing Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilians. He described the strike as a “crime against humanity,” claiming many of the victims were patients receiving treatment at the facility.
Pakistan swiftly denied the allegations. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif rejected claims that a hospital had been hit, insisting that the military conducted “precision airstrikes” aimed at militant infrastructure in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the targets included ammunition depots and technical support facilities allegedly used by militant groups.
The strike came amid intensifying clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, marking a sharp escalation in hostilities that began in late February. Both sides have traded accusations over civilian casualties and support for militant groups, further straining already fragile relations.
Despite international calls for restraint, including a recent appeal from the United Nations Security Council, the conflict shows little sign of easing, raising fears of broader regional instability.
Original article
Comments