Kabul: Authorities in Afghanistan have accused Pakistan of carrying out a devastating airstrike on a hospital in Kabul, claiming the attack killed at least 400 people and injured hundreds more. The incident marks a major escalation in tensions between the neighboring countries.
Afghan officials said the strike occurred late Monday night, hitting a large drug rehabilitation facility with a capacity of around 2,000 beds. According to government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat, significant portions of the hospital were destroyed, with rescue teams still working to recover bodies and extinguish fires.
Local media footage showed emergency responders searching through rubble under dim lighting, while survivors were evacuated from the damaged structure.
Pakistan Rejects Allegations
Pakistani authorities strongly denied targeting any civilian infrastructure. Officials stated that the air operations were aimed at militant-linked facilities rather than public institutions.
Government representatives, including officials under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, maintained that the strikes were “precision operations” focused on what they described as technical and logistical sites used by armed groups. According to Islamabad, separate strikes were also conducted in eastern Afghan regions, including Nangarhar.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information dismissed Kabul’s claims as misleading, accusing Afghan authorities of attempting to shift attention away from alleged support for cross-border militant activity.
Escalating Border Conflict
The reported strike follows weeks of intensifying clashes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Fighting between the two sides has included artillery exchanges, drone attacks, and airstrikes, making it one of the most serious confrontations in recent years.
Afghan officials condemned the attack as a violation of international law, with spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid calling it a “crime against humanity” and alleging that civilians, including patients, were deliberately targeted.
Pakistan, however, has repeatedly accused Afghanistan of harboring militant groups responsible for attacks داخل Pakistani territory—an allegation Kabul denies.
International Concern and UN Response
The rising violence has drawn concern from the United Nations Security Council, which recently urged Afghan authorities to intensify efforts against terrorism. While the resolution did not directly address the latest airstrike, it highlighted growing instability in the region.
The ongoing conflict has alarmed global observers, particularly due to the presence of extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and Islamic State, which could exploit the situation.
Rising Casualties and War Rhetoric
Both sides have reported heavy losses, though figures remain disputed. Pakistani officials claim hundreds of Afghan fighters have been killed in recent operations, while Afghan authorities say their forces have inflicted significant casualties on Pakistani troops.
Asif Ali Zardari recently warned that Afghan actions had crossed a “red line,” following reports of drone attacks داخل Pakistan that injured civilians.
The conflict, which reignited in late February, has shattered a previously brokered ceasefire and raised fears of a prolonged and wider الحرب between the two देशों.
As diplomatic efforts stall, the humanitarian toll continues to mount, with civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire.
