Afghanistan has said a Pakistani airstrike late on Monday on a hospital in Kabul killed and injured hundreds of people.
Pakistan denied the accusation and claimed its forces “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure” in Kabul and the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar, including equipment and ammunition storage allegedly used by insurgents Islamabad responsible for attacks on its soil.
Hamdullah Fitrat, a spokesperson for the Taliban, said the strike on the Omid drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul occurred at around 9pm local time. “Large parts of the hospital have been destroyed, and there are fears of heavy casualties,” he said in a post on X. “Sadly, the number of those killed has so far reached 400, with up to 250 others injured.”
He said rescue teams rushed to the scene to control the fires and search for victims under the debris.
In a statement posted overnight on X, Pakistan’s information and broadcasting ministry said the operation focused on locations linked to armed groups.
“Pakistan’s targeting is precise and carefully undertaken to ensure no collateral damage is inflicted,” the statement said. “This misreporting of facts as drug rehabilitation facility seeks to stir sentiments, covering illegitimate support to cross-border terrorism.”
Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail, spokesman for Afghanistan’s health ministry, told the BBC there were no military facilities near the hospital.
Residents across Kabul said they heard loud explosions shortly before 9pm, followed by the sound of aircraft and air defence systems.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, at least 75 people have been killed and 193 injured in cross-border violence between the two countries since 26 February.
Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for human rights in Afghanistan, said that he was “dismayed” by fresh reports of Pakistani airstrikes and resulting civilian deaths.
“My condolences. I urge parties to de-escalate, exercise maximum restraint and respect international law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects such as hospitals,” he said in a post on X.
