Pakistan rejects Afghan claims of a hospital air strike killing over 400, insisting it targeted militant infrastructure as UN calls for de-escalation and civilian protection.
KABUL: The Afghan Taliban government claims over 400 people were killed in an air strike by Pakistan on a Kabul hospital, a charge Islamabad firmly denies.
A Taliban spokesman reported 408 dead and 265 injured from the Monday night strike on the Omid drug rehabilitation centre.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar (pic) rejected the casualty figures as “false and misleading”.
He stated Pakistan “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure”.
“The visible secondary detonations after the strikes clearly indicate the presence of large ammunition depots,” Tarar said on social media.
Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the strike destroyed large parts of the state-run hospital.
“Sadly, the number of those killed has so far reached 400, with up to 250 others injured,” Fitrat posted.
Rescue teams worked at the scene to control fires and recover victims from the rubble.
A survivor named Ahmad described the scene as “doomsday”, saying his friends burned in the fire.
Ambulance driver Haji Fahim reported seeing “everything was burning, people were burning” upon arrival.
Pakistan’s government spokesman dismissed references to targeting drug users as “constant lies”.
He affirmed Pakistan’s “counter-terrorism operations” would continue to eliminate “terrorists and their infrastructure”.
China appealed for calm and restraint from both South Asian neighbours.
Foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said China would “continue to play a constructive role” to de-escalate tensions.
India condemned the strike, calling it “reprehensible” during the holy month of Ramadan.
The conflict marks the worst flare-up between the neighbours sharing a 2,600-km border.
Tensions had eased amid mediation attempts before reigniting just days before Eid al-Fitr.
The United Nations has urged de-escalation and protection of civilians amid the ongoing hostilities.