reported from the source

Quick summary: Pakistan has denied that its recent airstrike in Kabul targeted a hospital, stating that no civilian facilities were intentionally attacked. The UN reports that a drug rehabilitation clinic was affected by the airstrike.

Kabul/Islamabad. Pakistan has denied that its airstrike in the Afghan capital Kabul targeted a hospital. In a statement on X, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar asserted that neither a hospital nor a rehabilitation clinic or other civilian facilities were deliberately attacked. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) reports that the Omid rehabilitation clinic was affected by a Pakistani airstrike in Kabul. An Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson stated at the scene of the attack that 408 people were killed and 265 were injured. The claims from both conflicting parties could not be independently verified. Meanwhile, Tarar shared videos of airstrikes on X, indicating that infrastructure for technical support and ammunition depots at two locations in Kabul were destroyed. The videos reportedly showed secondary detonations, suggesting the presence of large ammunition depots. The British broadcaster BBC described the affected area as a former US military facility, which the Taliban converted into a clinic after taking power in 2021. The broadcaster reported that drug addicts from the capital were taken there. A patient injured in the explosions told the Afghan broadcaster Tolonews: ‘The recruitment center of the (Taliban) is right next to us. We saw them shooting from there. Planes circled above us; they flew by once, and when they returned for a second time, the recruitment center opened fire on them. When the (pilot) saw us with the camera, he probably thought that everyone here belonged to the recruitment center. When he saw the large crowd, he suddenly began the bombardment.’ A Pakistani government official told the German Press Agency in the morning: ‘We will not interrupt our attacks. We do not want to lose the momentum of the operation, even if there may have been a failure.’ The Pakistani Information Ministry stated on X that the targeted hospital is several kilometers away from the attacked ‘Camp Phoenix.’ The post also questioned why a rehabilitation clinic was located in close proximity to ammunition depots. The claims could not be independently verified. Rescue operations are ongoing. The affected clinic reportedly has over 2,000 beds. The day after the attacks, rescue services remained on site. A medical worker told Tolonews that more than 50 bodies could still be buried under the rubble. A mass burial for the victims is scheduled for the afternoon (local time). Just days prior, Pakistan had attacked targets in Afghanistan. According to Unama, there were fatalities and injuries from airstrikes in Kabul. Before the attack on Monday, at least 76 civilians had been killed and 213 injured in the conflict in Afghanistan since the end of February, Unama reported. Afghanistan had also recently attacked targets in Pakistan, including in the capital Islamabad. Pakistan accuses the Islamist Taliban in Kabul of supporting terrorists who carry out attacks in Pakistan. Kabul denies this.

Source: www.handelsblatt.com