Pakistan Rejects Taliban Government Claims of Kabul Hospital Strike

Pakistan's Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar strongly rejected accusations from Afghanistan's Taliban government that Pakistani forces struck the Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul.

Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesman for the Taliban government, stated that the military strike occurred at about 9pm local time on Monday, destroying large sections of the 2,000-bed facility treating drug users. He reported a death toll of 400 and 250 injured, with rescue teams working to control fires and recover bodies. Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid described the assault as a "crime against humanity" and accused Pakistan of intentionally targeting civilian infrastructure.

Tarar told Al Jazeera Arabic that Pakistan's strikes in Afghanistan have only targeted terrorist infrastructure and military locations, avoiding civilian sites.

The incident comes amid escalating cross-border violence that began late last month, including repeated clashes and Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan. Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of providing safe haven to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, as well as Baloch separatist groups and others targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians. Kabul denies these claims.

A United Nations Security Council resolution adopted on Monday condemned "in the strongest terms all terrorist activity including terrorist attacks" from within Afghanistan without naming Pakistan. It also extended the UN political mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, for three months.

The World Food Programme said on Sunday it was mobilizing immediate lifesaving food for more than 20,000 displaced families in Afghanistan due to the conflict.