Dozens of people are feared dead or injured at a drug treatment centre in Afghanistan's capital after an air strike that the Taliban government blamed on Pakistan. The hospital in Kabul was hit on Monday evening, killing some and injuring others, according to the government's spokesman on X. Pakistan denied striking any health facility, claiming it 'precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure' in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangahar.
The BBC visited the hospital where parts were still ablaze and witnessed over 30 bodies being carried out on stretchers. Approximately 2,000 people were reportedly being treated at the facility, and hospital officials fear there could be hundreds of casualties. Afghan health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail stated there were no military installations near the hospital.
Residents reported hearing loud explosions and aircraft noises around 20:50 local time, followed by air defense system activations. Family members of patients waited anxiously outside for news about their loved ones. While the Taliban claims the death toll has reached at least 400, numbers have not been independently verified. Pakistan’s information ministry called the allegation a misreporting intended to provoke sentiment amid accusations of supporting terrorism cross-border.
This attack occurs in a backdrop of ongoing hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which recently intensified since February when border skirmishes led to significant casualties according to UN estimates, indicating at least 75 deaths and 193 injuries.
Efforts for diplomatic resolutions are being pursued, with China working to ease tensions between the two countries, urging both sides to cease fire and engage in dialogue.
The BBC visited the hospital where parts were still ablaze and witnessed over 30 bodies being carried out on stretchers. Approximately 2,000 people were reportedly being treated at the facility, and hospital officials fear there could be hundreds of casualties. Afghan health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman Amarkhail stated there were no military installations near the hospital.
Residents reported hearing loud explosions and aircraft noises around 20:50 local time, followed by air defense system activations. Family members of patients waited anxiously outside for news about their loved ones. While the Taliban claims the death toll has reached at least 400, numbers have not been independently verified. Pakistan’s information ministry called the allegation a misreporting intended to provoke sentiment amid accusations of supporting terrorism cross-border.
This attack occurs in a backdrop of ongoing hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which recently intensified since February when border skirmishes led to significant casualties according to UN estimates, indicating at least 75 deaths and 193 injuries.
Efforts for diplomatic resolutions are being pursued, with China working to ease tensions between the two countries, urging both sides to cease fire and engage in dialogue.
