In a shocking escalation of border tensions, Pakistan launched a deadly air strike on a prominent Kabul drug rehabilitation center, killing more than 400 people and wounding over 250. The Taliban government has vehemently denounced the attack on the Ummid Hospital, which boasts 2,000 beds dedicated to treating addiction in the war-torn capital.
Taliban deputy spokesman Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat detailed the carnage on X, revealing the strike hit around 9 PM local time. ‘Pakistan’s military regime bombed the Ummid facility, obliterating large sections and likely causing even higher casualties,’ he stated, confirming 400 deaths and hundreds injured.
Spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted a poignant tribute: ‘Last night, the Pakistani military’s bombardment killed mostly innocent civilians and addicts in the 2,000-bed hospital. Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we return.’ The statement captured the profound loss felt across Afghanistan.
Afghanistan’s Health Ministry mobilized rescue teams immediately. Spokesman Sharaf Zaman noted that 170 injured patients were transferred to adjacent hospitals, with operations persisting into the morning. ‘Many parts of the hospital are destroyed, and we’re still pulling out bodies from the rubble,’ he said, as firefighters combated blazes amid the ruins.
Khama Press reported this as among the most lethal incidents in Kabul over recent years, prompting rapid global responses. UN expert Richard Bennett called for calm between the neighboring nations, alarmed by the civilian toll.
Abdullah Abdullah, a key figure in past Afghan talks, condemned the action as illegal under global norms and advocated dialogue. Zalmay Khalilzad similarly decried the loss of life and pushed for aid deliveries.
This brazen strike not only amplifies Pakistan-Afghanistan friction but also spotlights the perils faced by those seeking rehabilitation in conflict zones. With rescue efforts far from over, the international community braces for potential fallout.