A drug treatment centre in Afghanistan's capital Kabul was struck in an airstrike on Monday evening, with the Taliban government blaming Pakistan for the attack that reportedly killed and injured dozens. The government's spokesman stated on X (formerly Twitter) that the hospital was hit, resulting in fatalities and injuries, though exact numbers remain unverified amid conflicting claims.
Pakistan's authorities denied targeting any health facility, asserting that their operations "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure" in Kabul and Nangarhar province. However, BBC journalists visiting the scene observed parts of the hospital still on fire and witnessed over 30 bodies being carried out on stretchers, casting doubt on Pakistan's claims of precision and no collateral damage.
Hospital officials indicated that approximately 2,000 patients were undergoing treatment at the centre, suggesting the casualty toll could potentially reach into the hundreds. Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail, spokesman for the Afghan health ministry, told the BBC that no military facilities were located near the hospital, directly contradicting Pakistan's justification for the strike.
Local residents reported hearing loud explosions across Kabul around 20:50 local time (16:20 GMT), followed by the sound of aircraft and air defence systems. Family members of patients gathered outside the facility in a desperate search for information about their loved ones, highlighting the human toll of the escalating conflict.
A Taliban government spokesperson claimed the death toll had reached at least 400, but the BBC has not independently verified these figures. Pakistan's information ministry dismissed Afghanistan's account as a "misreporting of facts... [that] seeks to stir sentiments, covering illegitimate support to cross-border terrorism," reflecting the deep-seated tensions and mutual accusations between the two nations.
The incident exacerbates the ongoing conflict between the neighbouring countries, which re-erupted in February with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harbouring militant groups—a claim the Taliban government denies. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), at least 75 people have been killed and 193 injured in cross-border fighting since 26 February, despite a fragile ceasefire agreed in October.
In response to the rising tensions, China, which has attempted to mediate, reported that its Foreign Minister Wang Yi held phone calls with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts over the past week. Beijing called for a ceasefire "at the earliest opportunity" and urged both countries to "remain calm and exercise restraint [and to] engage face to face ASAP," underscoring international concerns over regional stability.
Source: www.bbc.com