Taliban Condemns Pakistani Airstrike on Kabul Hospital as Crime Against Humanity
Taliban's Strong Response to Airstrike
The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has labeled the recent Pakistani airstrike on a Kabul hospital as a "crime against humanity." In an exclusive interview with a media outlet, Suhail Shaheen, spokesperson for the Taliban's political office in Qatar, warned Pakistan that the opportunity for peace is diminishing and that a strong response will be delivered in kind.
Shaheen confirmed that around 9 PM on Monday, the Pakistani Air Force targeted a 2,000-bed rehabilitation hospital in Kabul. The attack reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 400 patients, with over 250 others suffering serious injuries. He described the scene outside the hospital, where relatives were seen grieving for their loved ones. Viral videos on social media show flames and smoke rising from the 'Hope Hospital.'
Details of the Attack
He stated, "At 9 PM, the Pakistani Air Force conducted an airstrike on the hospital, killing over 400 patients and injuring 250 more. This was a brutal attack and a crime against humanity." Shaheen added that families of the deceased were arriving at the hospital in distress, searching for information about their relatives. He accused the Pakistani military of launching attacks under the unfounded pretext of targeting the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad claims is responsible for attacks within Pakistan.
Shaheen denied any ongoing back-channel negotiations with the Pakistani government, asserting, "There are no secret talks happening right now. They have chosen the military path, while we have always sought a peaceful resolution. They opted to attack Afghanistan first, so I believe the response will be in their own language."
Pakistan Denies Targeting Hospital
Pakistan has rejected Afghanistan's claims, stating that it targeted military installations and terrorist support structures during the airstrike. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserted that the Pakistani military conducted precise airstrikes on military bases in Kabul and the eastern Nangarhar province.
He claimed that two locations in Kabul, housing technical support infrastructure and ammunition storage facilities, were destroyed. Tarar wrote on social media, "All attacks were conducted with precision, targeting only those infrastructures used by the Afghan Taliban regime to assist various terrorist groups."
Rising Tensions Between Pakistan and Afghanistan
These recent airstrikes signify a significant escalation in tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, jeopardizing the fragile ceasefire along their 2,600-kilometer border. The airstrikes occurred amid ongoing conflict in Iran, which shares borders with both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The unrest in Iran began following attacks by the US and Israel, resulting in the death of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
International Reactions
This is not Gaza or Iran, it’s Afghanistan.
Pakistan carried out a airstrike on a rehab hospital in Kabul, killing over 200 people and injuring around 170, says Afghan Health Ministry.— Globe Observer (@_GlobeObserver)
Pakistan has struck a drug rehabilitation hospital in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul.
— Globe Observer (@_GlobeObserver)