Tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have sharply increased after Kabul accused Islamabad of carrying out a deadly airstrike on a hospital in the Afghan capital.
According to Afghan officials, at least 400 people were killed and around 250 others injured in an attack on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul late Monday night. The facility, which reportedly had around 2,000 beds, suffered heavy damage as large sections of the building were destroyed.
A spokesperson for the Afghan government, Hamdullah Fitrat, said the strike took place around 9 pm local time. Rescue teams were seen working through the night to control fires and recover bodies from the rubble.
Another Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, strongly condemned the attack. He accused Pakistan of targeting a civilian hospital and called the incident a “crime against humanity.” He said the victims were patients undergoing treatment and not linked to any military activity.
However, Pakistan has firmly rejected these allegations. Officials in Islamabad described the claims as false and misleading. Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, said the military carried out “precision airstrikes” aimed only at terrorist infrastructure and military installations.
According to Pakistan, the targets included ammunition storage and technical facilities allegedly used by Afghan Taliban-linked groups. The government insisted that the operation was carefully planned to avoid civilian casualties and that no hospital was targeted.
The incident comes at a time when relations between the two neighbouring countries are already under serious strain. Border clashes have continued for weeks, with both sides accusing each other of attacks. Earlier on the same day, Afghan officials reported that cross-border firing had killed four people, including children.
The conflict has been building since late February, when Pakistan launched airstrikes inside Afghanistan, claiming to target militant groups. Kabul responded with its own actions, calling the strikes a violation of its sovereignty. A ceasefire brokered by Qatar last year has now broken down.
In a strong statement, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the situation has reached the level of “open war.” This has raised concerns that the conflict could expand further in the coming days.
A major issue behind the tension is Pakistan’s claim that Afghanistan is providing safe haven to groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which has been responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. The Afghan government has denied these accusations.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation is worsening. Thousands of families have been displaced due to ongoing violence, and basic services are under pressure.
At this stage, there is no independent confirmation of whether the hospital was directly targeted or if it was hit during a strike on nearby locations. Both sides continue to defend their positions, making it difficult to verify the exact facts.
As the conflict deepens, the risk to civilians remains high, and there are growing fears that the situation could turn into a wider regional crisis if tensions are not reduced soon.
Clyde Evans is the lead editor for White Pine Tribune. Clyde has been working as a freelance journalist for nearly a decade having published stories in many print and digital publications including, the Financial Post and the Huff Post Canada. Clyde is based in Toronto and covers issues affecting his city and province. When he’s not busy writing, Trevor enjoys canoeing.
