Hundreds are feared dead after a strike on a hospital treating drug users in Kabul, which Afghan officials blame on the Pakistani military. Deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the death toll had reached 400 people so far, with about 250 injured. Most casualties were patients undergoing treatment at the facility.
Pakistan rejected the claim as false and misleading, stating it had precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure on Monday night. Islamabad dismissed allegations of hitting a civilian target, calling the reporting of a drug rehabilitation facility a misrepresentation aimed at stirring sentiments.
Witnesses described scenes of devastation. Ahmad, a 50-year-old security guard, said the whole place caught fire and it was like doomsday. He was the only survivor among 25 staff in the dormitory. Ambulance driver Haji Fahim arrived to find everything burning and people on fire.
The Taliban's health ministry spokesperson said about 3,000 patients were in the state-run Omid hospital at the time. The UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett expressed dismay and urged parties to de-escalate and respect international law, including protection of civilians and hospitals.
The alleged attack came hours after border clashes killed four in Afghanistan. This is the third time Pakistan has targeted Kabul with missile strikes in recent weeks. The conflict, described by Islamabad as an open war, has displaced over 20,000 people since late February.
