Tragic Mass Funeral in Kabul: Airstrike Victims Remembered Amid Ongoing Conflict
Mass Burial in Kabul for Airstrike Victims
Kabul: On Thursday, a somber mass funeral took place in Kabul, where numerous individuals were laid to rest following an airstrike that targeted a drug rehabilitation center earlier this month.
Using bulldozers, workers excavated a large pit to accommodate the 60 coffins. Afghan authorities reported that hundreds lost their lives when a Pakistani airstrike struck the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, which has a capacity of 2,000 beds, on March 16.
The United Nations humanitarian office is currently verifying the total number of casualties. Pakistan has refuted claims of civilian targeting, asserting that the strike was aimed at an ammunition depot.
This airstrike occurred amidst escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have seen increased cross-border skirmishes and airstrikes within Afghan territory since February.
Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harboring militants who conduct attacks within its borders, particularly the Pakistani Taliban.
While the Pakistani Taliban operates independently, it maintains close ties with the Afghan Taliban, which regained control of Afghanistan in 2021 during the chaotic withdrawal of US forces. Kabul has denied these allegations.
Last month, Pakistan announced it was in a state of open conflict with Afghanistan, raising concerns among the international community, especially given the presence of other militant groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State in the region.
A temporary ceasefire was declared last week in light of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, facilitated by Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar.
However, the truce ended this week, leading to renewed hostilities on Wednesday, with Afghan officials reporting at least two civilian fatalities and additional injuries in eastern Afghanistan.
In a separate development, the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), announced the resumption of attacks within Pakistan after a three-day ceasefire for Eid.
Thursday's funeral marked the second mass burial for victims of the airstrike at the addiction treatment center, following an earlier service for over 50 individuals on March 18.
Health Ministry spokesperson Sharafat Zaman reported that the death toll from the strike has now reached 411, with two additional fatalities occurring in the hospital and one more body recovered from the debris in recent days. Additionally, 263 individuals sustained injuries.
The Omid hospital was expanded from a previous drug treatment facility as part of the Taliban government's initiative to address Afghanistan's significant drug addiction crisis.
The country's extensive poppy fields have been a major source of global heroin, exacerbating drug addiction issues amid decades of conflict and widespread poverty, which authorities have pledged to combat.
Located near Kabul's international airport, the site is adjacent to the former NATO military base, Camp Phoenix, where US forces once trained the Afghan National Army.
The airstrike ignited a severe fire at the hospital, and officials indicated that many victims' bodies were too severely damaged for identification.