Afghanistan has accused Pakistan of conducting an airstrike on a hospital for drug users in the Afghan capital, resulting in the deaths of at least 400 individuals. This incident represents a significant escalation in a conflict that commenced last month and has involved repeated clashes and airstrikes across the border. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the situation has not improved.
Pakistan has denied the allegations of targeting a hospital, asserting that their strikes in eastern Afghanistan did not impact any civilian locations. Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesman, Hamdullah Fitrat, stated that the airstrike occurred around 9 p.m. local time, causing extensive damage to the 2,000-bed facility and resulting in a death toll of 400 individuals, with around 250 others reported injured.
Footage from local television stations depicted security forces using flashlights to assist casualties, while firefighters battled flames in the building’s ruins. Rescue teams were mobilized to control the fire and retrieve bodies. This incident followed border clashes between the two countries, claiming four lives in Afghanistan as the intense fighting entered its third week.
Afghanistan’s government spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, condemned the strike, accusing Pakistan of deliberately attacking hospitals and civilian areas. The Pakistani Prime Minister’s spokesman, Mosharraf Zaidi, refuted the claims, stating that no hospital was targeted in Kabul. Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, revealed that precision airstrikes were carried out on military installations in Kabul and Nangarhar, destroying technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage.
The UN Security Council urged Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to intensify efforts against terrorism, without explicitly mentioning Pakistan. The Security Council resolution condemned all terrorist activities and extended the UN political mission in Afghanistan. Pakistan alleges that Afghanistan shelters militant groups like the Pakistani Taliban, which launch attacks within Pakistan, a charge that Kabul denies.
The ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, declared as an “open war” by Pakistan, has raised concerns globally due to the presence of various militant organizations in the region. Both countries have exchanged accusations of casualties inflicted on each other’s forces. The situation remains tense as both sides continue to engage in military actions, impacting civilians and escalating tensions.