Kabul: More than 400 people were killed and 265 others injured in an airstrike allegedly carried out by Pakistan on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, the Afghan Taliban government said on March 17.
In a post on X, Hamdullah Fitrat said the strike late March 16 destroyed large sections of the hospital. He added that rescue teams were working to control the fire at the building and recover bodies from the rubble.
According to local health officials, more than 50 bodies are feared to be trapped under the rubble. Local television footage showed firefighters battling flames rising from the rubble of the damaged building.
Pakistan had earlier denied hitting a hospital, saying its airstrikes in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan early this week did not target any civilian sites. The Ministry of Information said the strikes “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure,” including equipment storage and ammunition facilities used by Afghan Taliban and Pakistan-based militants.
Fighting between the two countries began in late February after cross-border strikes triggered retaliatory attacks from both sides. Pakistan has described the situation as an “open war,” while Afghan officials say defending the country’s sovereignty is the responsibility of all citizens.
'No more talks': Taliban vows retaliationThe Afghan Taliban strongly condemned Pakistan’s latest wave of airstrikes, accusing Islamabad of carrying out deadly attacks on civilian locations and violating Afghan airspace. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid alleged that the Pakistani military deliberately targeted hospitals, schools and madrasas to “perpetrate terror and horror" among civilians. Signalling a hardening of position, Mujahid declared that there was “no more diplomacy or talks" with Pakistan and that the Taliban would instead seek retaliation. He said the regime would avenge those killed in the strikes and warned that continued attacks would have consequences. |
