New Delhi: A massive airstrike in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul has triggered sharp tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Afghan authorities claimed that hundreds of people were killed when a hospital was struck late Monday night.
Afghan officials said the attack hit a large drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul at around 9 pm local time. The strike reportedly caused severe destruction to the facility, which has a capacity of around 2,000 beds. Authorities said the blast destroyed significant portions of the building and left a large number of patients and staff trapped under debris.
According to Afghan government statements, at least 400 people lost their lives in the attack while about 250 others sustained injuries. Many of the victims were patients receiving treatment for drug addiction at the facility. Rescue efforts continued through the night as emergency teams worked to recover bodies and assist the wounded.
Afghan leaders strongly condemned the incident, accusing Pakistan of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. Officials said the strike represented a serious violation of Afghan airspace and described the incident as a grave humanitarian tragedy. They also argued that striking a medical facility treating vulnerable patients breached fundamental international principles.
Pakistan rejected the allegations and dismissed claims that a hospital was targeted. Authorities in Islamabad stated that their military conducted precision airstrikes aimed solely at military installations in Kabul and in the eastern province of Nangarhar. According to Pakistani officials, the operations targeted infrastructure and ammunition storage sites believed to be supporting militant activities.
The reported strike came amid escalating hostilities between the two neighbouring countries. Earlier the same day, clashes were reported along the Afghanistan Pakistan border, where exchanges of fire resulted in casualties on the Afghan side.
The conflict has intensified over recent weeks, marking one of the most serious confrontations between the two nations in years. Fighting erupted in late February following cross border strikes and retaliatory attacks, effectively derailing a ceasefire agreement that had been brokered months earlier to prevent further violence.
With tensions continuing to rise, the situation has heightened fears of a broader conflict between the two countries.
