At least 400 people have reportedly lost their lives after an airstrike struck a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, according to Afghan officials. The hospital, reportedly serving drug users and accommodating around 2,000 beds, was severely damaged during the attack, which occurred around 9 pm local time.
Afghanistan swiftly accused Pakistan of carrying out the strike, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. Hamdullah Fitrat, Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman, confirmed the death toll and reported an additional 250 people injured. Rescue teams are actively working to extinguish fires and recover bodies amid the ruins.
Footage shared by local agencies shows emergency responders working under torchlight as firefighters battle the blaze. The attack comes amidst weeks of cross-border clashes following a ceasefire collapse that had earlier caused casualties on both sides, including civilians and soldiers.
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Afghan government spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid condemned the attack on social media, calling it a crime against humanity and accusing Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian sites and hospitals.
Conversely, Pakistan disputes these claims. Spokespersons from the Pakistani government and military assert that the airstrikes were precise military operations targeting Taliban-related infrastructure, including ammunition and technical equipment stores used by militants, and deny any targeting of civilian locations or hospitals.
The Pakistani Ministry of Information labelled Afghanistan’s accusations as “false and misleading,” suggesting they aim to inflame public sentiment and obscure alleged Afghan support for cross-border terrorism.
The incident took place shortly after the United Nations Security Council urged Afghanistan’s Taliban government to intensify efforts against terrorism. Pakistan alleges that Kabul harbors terrorist groups, particularly the Pakistani Taliban and other separatist militants, accusations which Afghanistan denies.
Cross-border violence has continued to intensify, with recent clashes killing several civilians, including children, in provinces along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Both sides claim to have inflicted significant casualties on one another, with heavy losses reported among Taliban forces by Pakistan, and Pakistani soldier casualties claimed by Afghanistan.
This escalation reflects the deepening and complex conflict that challenges regional stability, with both nations trading accusations amid ongoing military confrontations, increased airstrikes, and diplomatic tensions.