India Condemns ‘Massacre’ In Kabul As Pakistan's Strike on Hospital Kills Over 400 In Afghanistan

In a sharply worded condemnation, India on Tuesday denounced Pakistan's airstrike on a hospital in the Afghan capital, Kabul, terming it a "massacre dressed as a military operation" and a blatant assault on Afghanistan's sovereignty. The attack, which reportedly killed hundreds of civilians, has drawn international outrage and further inflamed tensions between the neighbouring nations.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong statement holding Islamabad accountable for what it described as a "cowardly and unconscionable act of violence." The strike targeted the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, a large 2,000-bed facility, during the holy month of Ramzan, a detail the MEA flagged as making the attack "even more reprehensible."

"This is a cowardly and unconscionable act of violence that has claimed the lives of a large number of civilians in a facility that can by no means be justified as a military target. Pakistan is now trying to dress up a massacre as a military operation," the MEA statement read.

The Indian government further characterised the strike as a reflection of a "persistent pattern of reckless behaviour" by Pakistan, accusing it of attempting to "externalise internal failures through increasingly desperate acts of violence beyond its borders."

New Delhi called upon the international community to hold those responsible accountable and to ensure an immediate end to such targeting of civilians on Afghan soil. "India extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, wishes a swift recovery to those injured, and stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in this tragic moment. We also reiterate our unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan," the statement added.

According to Afghan officials, the death toll from Monday night's strike is staggering. Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban administration in Kabul, posted on X that the fatalities have risen to 400, with another 250 individuals wounded. Health Ministry spokesman Sharafat Zaman confirmed that the drug treatment hospital was completely destroyed in the attack.

Local reports from Kabul described loud explosions rocking the city around 9:00 PM local time, with plumes of smoke rising from the Shahr-e-Naw and Wazir Akbar Khan areas. Television footage showed emergency workers battling flames amid the rubble of the building.

The Taliban administration was quick to condemn the attack. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid labelled the strikes "a crime" and an "act of inhumanity," emphasising that most of the victims were addicts receiving treatment at the facility.

However, Islamabad has pushed back against the allegations. Pakistan's Ministry of Information claimed that its forces carried out strikes in Kabul and the eastern province of Nangarhar that "precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure." The statement alleged the sites were being used by the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan-based militant groups for storing technical equipment and ammunition.

This latest escalation marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two uneasy neighbours, who share a volatile 2,600-km border. The conflict, which had seen some respite following mediation efforts by friendly nations including China, has reignited with a vengeance just days before Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramzan. The international community now watches warily as the death toll mounts and regional stability hangs in the balance.