Mar 16 • 23:44 UTC 🇬🇧 UK Guardian

Dozens killed in Kabul hospital by strikes Afghan government blames on Pakistan

Airstrikes believed to have targeted a drug treatment hospital in Kabul resulted in numerous casualties, with the Afghan government attributing the strikes to Pakistan, which has denied involvement.

In a tragic incident, a hospital in Kabul dedicated to treating drug users was heavily damaged by airstrikes that resulted in a high number of casualties, with preliminary reports indicating a death toll of 200. Afghan officials, including health ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman, provided this grim figure during a televised interview, highlighting that the entire hospital had been destroyed. The aftermath saw emergency responders struggling to combat the rampant fires within the debris of the hospital while a count of at least 30 bodies was noted by journalists on the scene amidst ongoing efforts to assist the injured.

The Afghan government, led by spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, has placed the blame on Pakistan's military for the attack, suggesting that this was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of cross-border aggression. As tensions rise, Pakistan has firmly rejected these allegations, asserting that their strikes were directed at military targets in eastern Afghanistan and did not involve civilian locations. This disagreement complicates the already tense relationship between the neighboring countries and raises questions about accountability and the safety of non-combatant facilities in conflict zones.

This devastating event occurs within a backdrop of ongoing frictions in the Afghanistan-Pakistan relationship, which has seen numerous skirmishes and accusations of terrorism sponsorship. The international community is likely to scrutinize this incident, potentially influencing diplomatic ties and humanitarian responses in the region. It also emphasizes the precarious situation of healthcare facilities in war-torn areas, often becoming collateral damage in military operations, with significant repercussions not only for the patients but also for broader community health initiatives in Afghanistan.

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