A hospital attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, on March 16-17 resulted in 400 deaths and 250 injuries, prompting accusations against Pakistan.
Attack on Kabul Hospital Results in Mass Casualties
Deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat reported on the night of March 16-17 that the death toll from the attack had risen to 400, with 250 people injured.
The hospital was providing care for individuals struggling with drug addiction.
Witness Accounts Detail the Carnage
Haji Fahim, a paramedic, stated upon arriving at the hospital that “everything was burning, people were burning.” He added that he was called back early in the morning after being informed that bodies remained under the rubble.
Patient Yousaf Rahim recounted, “We were in the ward when the explosion happened.” He described being injured in the leg and thigh, witnessing a terrifying scene of patients falling from beds, screaming, and fleeing as fire and smoke filled the rooms. He noted the thick smoke and dust spread throughout the hospital.
Pakistan Denies Afghan Allegations
Pakistan rejects the accusations made by Afghan authorities, stating that on the evening of March 16, its forces conducted strikes against “military installations and infrastructure supporting terrorists,” but did not target civilian facilities.
Pakistani Prime Minister’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi affirmed that the Pakistani military did not attack any hospital in Kabul.
Escalation Following Border Clashes
The hospital attack occurred shortly after Afghan officials reported an exchange of fire on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, resulting in the deaths of four civilians on the Afghan side.
