Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities have said that at least 400 people were killed and 250 injured following a Pakistani air strike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, marking a sharp escalation in tensions between the neighbouring countries.
The Taliban government stated that the strike hit the state run Omid hospital on Monday evening, causing widespread destruction to the facility, which reportedly housed hundreds of patients undergoing treatment.
Pakistan, however, rejected the allegation, insisting that its operation targeted militant infrastructure and not civilian facilities. In a statement, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the presence of secondary explosions indicated ammunition depots, not a hospital.
The incident came amid renewed hostilities between the two countries, whose relations have deteriorated significantly in recent weeks despite mediation efforts by China aimed at de-escalating the conflict.
Witnesses described scenes of devastation at the site, with parts of the hospital reduced to rubble and others engulfed in flames. Survivors recounted hearing multiple explosions as patients and staff were concluding evening prayers.
One survivor, who gave his name as Ahmad, said the blaze spread rapidly through the building. “The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday,” he said, adding that many were trapped inside.
Emergency responders, including ambulances and security personnel, were deployed to the scene, with rescue teams working through the night to recover bodies from the debris and contain the fire.
Taliban officials said large sections of the hospital were destroyed and warned that the death toll could rise further. However, casualty figures could not be independently verified.
Pakistan has maintained that its actions form part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations, accusing Afghanistan of harbouring militants responsible for cross border attacks an allegation Kabul denies.
The latest escalation comes against a backdrop of broader regional instability, with ongoing tensions across the Middle East further compounding concerns.
The United Nations has expressed alarm at the reports, urging both sides to exercise restraint and adhere to international law, particularly regarding the protection of civilians and medical facilities.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing as conflicting accounts continue to emerge.
Goodness Anunobi
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