Afghanistan Says 400 Killed in Kabul Airstrike by Pakistan

Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have sharply increased after Afghanistan accused Pakistan of carrying out a deadly airstrike in Kabul that killed at least 400 people.

According to Afghan officials, the airstrike took place late Monday night and hit a large drug rehabilitation hospital in the capital, Kabul. The facility, which had around 2,000 beds, was heavily damaged in the attack. Authorities said around 250 people were also injured.

Afghanistan’s deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the strike destroyed major parts of the hospital. Rescue teams worked through the night to control the fire and recover bodies from the debris. Videos shared by local media showed emergency workers searching for survivors using flashlights.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid strongly condemned the attack, calling it a crime against humanity. He claimed that the victims were mostly patients receiving treatment at the hospital.

However, Pakistan has firmly denied targeting any hospital or civilian area. Officials said their military carried out “precision airstrikes” only on militant infrastructure in Kabul and eastern Afghanistan, including Nangarhar province.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that the strikes targeted facilities used by militant groups and were carefully planned to avoid civilian casualties. The government also rejected Afghanistan’s claims as false and misleading.

The incident comes amid ongoing clashes between the two countries. Fighting along the border has continued for weeks, with both sides reporting casualties. The situation has worsened despite international calls for a ceasefire.

The United Nations Security Council has also urged Afghanistan to take stronger action against militant groups. Pakistan has long accused Afghanistan of giving safe haven to groups like the Pakistani Taliban, a claim Kabul denies.

The conflict began escalating in late February after cross-border attacks and retaliatory airstrikes. Since then, both countries have claimed heavy losses, but the numbers remain disputed.

This latest development has raised serious concerns globally, as tensions between the two neighboring countries continue to grow without any clear resolution in sight.