Dozens of people are feared dead or injured after a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul was struck by an air strike on Monday evening, Afghan authorities said, blaming Pakistan for the attack.
A spokesperson for the Taliban-led government said the facility was hit, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. However, Pakistan denied targeting any healthcare institution, stating that its operations were directed at “military installations and terrorist support infrastructure” in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar.
Local reports indicate the scale of the damage is significant. Journalists on the ground observed sections of the hospital still ablaze, with more than 30 bodies reportedly removed from the site. Hospital officials said approximately 2,000 patients were undergoing treatment at the time, raising fears that casualties could be substantially higher.
The Afghan Ministry of Public Health maintained that no military facilities were located near the hospital. Residents in Kabul reported hearing loud explosions around 20:50 local time, followed by aircraft activity and air defence responses.
Family members of patients gathered outside the hospital, seeking information on missing relatives amid the unfolding crisis.
While a Taliban spokesperson claimed the death toll could be as high as 400, the figures have not been independently verified.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information rejected the allegations, describing them as “misreporting of facts” aimed at inflaming tensions, and reiterated that its strikes were conducted with precision to avoid civilian harm.
The incident comes amid renewed hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which escalated in February following mutual accusations over cross-border militancy. According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, at least 75 people have been killed and 193 injured since 26 February due to ongoing clashes.
Despite a fragile ceasefire agreed in October, tensions remain high. China has urged both sides to de-escalate, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly engaging counterparts from both countries in recent days and calling for restraint and dialogue. (Source: BBC)
