Families Search for Loved Ones After Deadly Attack in Kabul Rehab Center

Afghanistan Reports High Casualties from Pakistani Air Strike

A recent air strike on the Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, has resulted in significant loss of life. According to Taliban authorities, 408 people were killed and 265 injured in the attack.

The hospital, which is a 2,000-bed facility, was targeted by an airstrike at approximately 9pm local time on Monday. The incident occurred during the evening prayers, when witnesses reported hearing three explosions that struck rooms and patient areas.

Rescue efforts are ongoing, with many families gathering outside the hospital to search for loved ones who were admitted to the facility. One family member, Baryalai Amiri, expressed concern over the lack of information provided by authorities regarding his brother’s whereabouts.

Pakistan has denied claims that the attack targeted civilians, stating instead that it carried out precision strikes on “military installations and terrorist support infrastructure”. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated that Pakistan’s targeting is precise and carefully undertaken to ensure no collateral damage is inflicted.

The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has expressed dismay over the reports of air raids and civilian casualties. A spokesman for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior Affairs confirmed the death toll and injuries reported by witnesses.

The clinic, established in 2016, provides treatment to hundreds of patients and vocational training to make them employable. The incident is part of a recent escalation of violence between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have been in conflict for months.

Source: Al Jazeera