Over 400 killed in Kabul hospital airstrike, 7,500 families displaced in Kunar; UN demands accountability, India condemns attack, Afghan cricketers and international community express solidarity….reports Asian Lite News
Death toll crossed 400 after a Pakistani airstrike struck the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul earlier this week, leaving at least 250 injured, including patients and staff. The attack has intensified fears among civilians in the Afghan capital, where medical and public infrastructure remains under threat. The United Nations has called for an independent investigation, stressing that hospitals and medical facilities must never be targeted. UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan described the incident as “horrific” and demanded accountability for those responsible.
Thousands Flee Across Kunar Province
Simultaneously, Pakistani forces fired 124 rockets into districts of Kunar province, near the Durand Line, prompting widespread displacement. Officials report that nearly 7,500 families have been forced from their homes, seeking refuge in safer areas. Zia-ul-Rahman Spin Ghar, Head of Information at Kunar Directorate of Information and Culture, said, “Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but thousands have been uprooted from their homes due to continuous shelling.” The attacks have compounded the already fragile living conditions in eastern Afghanistan, straining humanitarian support systems.
Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi expressed profound concern over the airstrikes, declaring that Afghanistan has lost trust in Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy. Speaking to ambassadors and international representatives in Kabul, he warned that Pakistan’s military establishment had shown no intention of pursuing peaceful resolution, stating, “It should now be evident to all countries that the Pakistani military apparatus shows no respect for diplomacy.”
India strongly condemned the Kabul hospital airstrike, calling it a “barbaric act” and urging the global community to hold perpetrators accountable. Meanwhile, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other human rights bodies called for immediate de-escalation and compliance with international law to protect civilians.
Temporary Ceasefire
In a limited move toward de-escalation, Pakistan announced a temporary pause in its Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against Taliban positions, citing Eid-ul-Fitr and requests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey. Information Minister Ataullah Tarar clarified that military operations would resume immediately in response to any attacks. The Afghan Taliban also declared a temporary suspension of cross-border operations during this period.
The Afghan cricket community has stepped forward to support victims. National team captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, along with teammates Gulbadin Naib and Qais Ahmad, visited hospitals in Kabul, offering prayers and expressing solidarity. Star all-rounder Rashid Khan condemned the targeting of civilians as a war crime, calling on the UN to hold responsible parties accountable. “The sheer disregard for human lives, especially during Ramadan, is sickening. We shall heal and rise again,” he said.
The airstrikes and rocket attacks have created a humanitarian emergency across Afghanistan, with tens of thousands displaced, hospitals overwhelmed, and basic services disrupted. UNHCR reported that since the escalation last month, 289 Afghan civilians, including 104 children and 59 women, have been killed or injured. Humanitarian agencies are mobilising to provide shelter, food, and medical care, but access remains limited in conflict-affected areas.
