Afghanistan has accused Pakistan’s military of carrying out an airstrike on a hospital in Kabul that was treating drug addiction patients, reportedly killing at least 400 people. However, Pakistan has firmly rejected the accusation, describing it as false and intended to mislead public opinion.
What exactly happened during the reported attack?
According to Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Taliban administration, the strike took place around 9pm local time (16:30 GMT). The target was the Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, a large medical facility with a capacity of 2,000 beds.
Fitrat stated that large parts of the hospital were destroyed in the attack. He reported that at least 400 people had been killed, while approximately 250 others were injured. Emergency response teams were deployed to extinguish fires and recover victims from the debris.
What evidence and eyewitness accounts have emerged?
Footage broadcast by local television channels showed firefighters battling intense flames among the ruins of a heavily damaged building. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes following the incident.
Omid Stanikzai, a 31-year-old security guard at the hospital, told the AFP news agency that he heard fighter jets flying overhead before the explosion. He explained that military units on the ground appeared to engage the aircraft, after which bombs were dropped, triggering a massive fire.
Stanikzai also claimed that all casualties were civilians, including patients and staff inside the hospital at the time of the strike.
How has Pakistan responded to the accusations?
Pakistan has denied any involvement in targeting civilian infrastructure. Officials stated that military operations were limited strictly to strategic targets, specifically military installations in Kabul and Nangahar province.
The government described Afghanistan’s claims as misleading and rejected responsibility for the reported destruction of the hospital.
What is the broader context of the situation?
The incident has further heightened tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, with conflicting narratives making it difficult to verify the exact sequence of events. As investigations and rescue efforts continue, the reported scale of casualties has raised serious concerns within the international community.