Afghanistan Reports Over 400 Dead in Alleged Pakistan Hospital Strike
Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of conducting an air strike on a hospital in Kabul, claiming at least 400 people have been killed and hundreds more injured. The incident marks a severe escalation in the ongoing cross-border conflict between the two nations, which began in late February.
Details of the Attack and Conflicting Claims
According to Afghan officials, the strike targeted the Secondary Rehabilitation Services Centre, a 2,000-bed facility for drug users, around 9 p.m. local time. Hamdullah Fitrat, Afghanistan's deputy government spokesman, stated on social media that the death toll had reached 400 "so far," with an additional 250 people injured. Footage from local TV stations showed security forces using torches to rescue casualties as firefighters battled flames engulfing the building's ruins.
In response, Pakistan has dismissed these allegations as baseless. A spokesperson for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Mosharraf Zaidi, asserted that no hospital was targeted in Kabul. Pakistan's Ministry of Information claimed the strikes precisely hit military installations and terrorist support infrastructure in Kabul and Nangarhar, aiming to avoid collateral damage. They accused Afghanistan of spreading false information to cover up support for cross-border terrorism.
International Context and Escalating Tensions
The strike occurred hours after the UN Security Council called on Afghanistan's Taliban rulers to intensify efforts against terrorism, though the resolution did not name Pakistan. Pakistan has long accused Kabul of harboring militant groups, including the Pakistani Taliban, which it blames for attacks within its borders. In turn, Afghanistan denies these charges.
Earlier on Monday, Afghan officials reported that four people, including two children, were killed in border clashes, with villages in Khost Province struck overnight. Pakistan described the situation as an "open war," with President Asif Ali Zardari stating that Afghanistan crossed a "red line" by using drones that injured Pakistani civilians last week.
Humanitarian and Diplomatic Fallout
Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid condemned the hospital strike on social media, calling it a crime against humanity and accusing Pakistan of targeting civilian sites. Rescue teams are working to control the fire and recover bodies, but international calls for a ceasefire have been ignored so far.
The conflict has disrupted a Qatar-brokered ceasefire from October, with both sides reporting significant casualties. Pakistan claims to have killed 684 Afghan Taliban forces, while Afghanistan says it has killed over 100 Pakistani soldiers. As tensions mount, the UN has extended its political mission in Afghanistan for three months, urging de-escalation to prevent further loss of life.
