Pakistan Denies Hospital Strike in Afghanistan Amid Rising Death Toll

Pakistani Minister Clarifies Allegations of Hospital Strike

A Pakistani minister has denied allegations made by the Afghan government that his country’s military targeted a hospital treating drug users in Kabul. The hospital, known as the Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital, was reportedly struck on Monday evening, resulting in significant damage and an estimated 400 deaths.

According to Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s Minister of Information, the allegations are “strongly refuted and rejected”. He stated that Pakistani forces have only targeted terrorist infrastructure and military locations. The Afghan government has accused Pakistan’s military of intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure, including the hospital.

The incident is part of a recent escalation in violence between the two countries, with repeated cross-border clashes and air strikes inside Afghanistan. The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution condemning “all terrorist activity” from within Afghanistan, but did not name Pakistan.

A spokesperson for the Afghan government has denounced the assault as a “crime against humanity”, while the World Food Programme has begun mobilizing to provide food assistance to over 20,000 displaced families in Afghanistan.

Source: Al Jazeera