Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan of Deadly Hospital Strike in Kabul
Afghanistan has formally accused neighboring Pakistan of killing approximately 400 individuals during a military strike that targeted a hospital in Kabul specifically dedicated to treating drug addicts. This devastating allegation comes directly from Taliban officials, who currently govern Afghanistan, marking a significant escalation in the already tense relations between the two nations.
Conflicting Accounts of the Attack
Sharafat Zaman, the official spokesman for Afghanistan's health ministry, initially reported a death toll exceeding 200 people during an interview broadcast on state television. He emphasized that the drug treatment facility was completely destroyed in the assault. According to his statement, an estimated 3,000 drug users were receiving treatment at the center when the attack occurred.
However, Pakistani authorities have vehemently denied these claims. Mosharraf Zaidi, serving as spokesman for Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, stated unequivocally that Pakistan's military strikes did not impact any civilian locations. The Pakistani information ministry released an official statement asserting that the operations were precisely aimed at military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.
Taliban's Detailed Allegations
The Taliban's deputy spokesman provided more specific figures, alleging that 400 people were killed and another 250 were injured in the hospital strike. Afghan television networks broadcast distressing footage showing firefighters desperately attempting to extinguish flames amidst the ruins of the building, providing visual evidence of the destruction.
Pakistan's official position maintains that their strikes targeted "technical equipment storage and ammunition storage of Afghan Taliban" and other militant groups operating in both Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar. The Pakistani government claims these facilities were being utilized to launch attacks against innocent Pakistani civilians.
Broader Context of Regional Tensions
This incident occurs against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan formally declared it was in "open war" with Afghanistan on February 27, 2026, nearly one week after conducting limited airstrikes on February 21. Islamabad frequently accuses Afghanistan, where the Taliban regained power in August 2021, of providing sanctuary to militants who carry out terrorist attacks across the border—an accusation the Taliban consistently denies.
The Pakistani information ministry further suggested that what it called "false and misleading" claims about striking a hospital were intentionally circulated to stir public sentiment and conceal what Pakistan describes as "illegitimate support for cross-border terrorism." This exchange of accusations highlights the deep-seated mistrust and ongoing conflict between the two neighboring countries, with civilian facilities now becoming a central point of contention.
