“Blatant Assault on Afghanistan’s sovereignty”; India Condemns Pakistan’s Airstrike On Kabul Hospital

New Delhi: India has strongly condemned Pakistan’s airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, calling it a “barbaric” and “blatant assault” on Afghanistan’s sovereignty.

The attack took place on the night of March 16 at around 9 p.m. when Pakistan’s air force struck the state-run Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital. This is a large 2,000-bed centre for treating people with drug addiction.

“The strike destroyed large parts of the hospital and  more than 400 people were killed and around 250 were injured,” Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy spokesperson for the Taliban Afghan government said in a post on X

India’s Ministry of External Affairs released a statement on Tuesday. It said “This is a cowardly and unconscionable act of violence that has claimed the lives of a large number of civilians in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military target. Pakistan is now trying to dress up a massacre as a military operation.”

Parvathaneni Harish, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations also criticised Pakistan saying The UN commemorated the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 16 and Pakistan commemorated this day by massacring innocent civilians with an air attack on a hospital in Kabul  during the holy month of Ramadan. This blatant impunity and violation of the UN Charter must stop, Harish said. 

“This heinous act of aggression by Pakistan is also a blatant assault on Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a direct threat to regional peace and stability. It reflects Pakistan’s persistent pattern of reckless behaviour and its repeated attempts to externalize internal failures through increasingly desperate acts of violence beyond its borders,” MEA added.

India called on the international community to hold those responsible accountable and stop Pakistan from targeting civilians in Afghanistan. “The international community must hold the perpetrators of this criminal act accountable and ensure that the wanton targeting by Pakistan of civilians in Afghanistan ceases without delay.” MEA said in the statement.

India also offered condolences “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.”

Pakistan rejected Afghanistan’s claims. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s prime minister, Mosharraf Zaidi, said on X that the Afghan reference to targeting drug users was “lies.” Pakistan said its “counterterrorism operations” would continue until terrorists and their infrastructure are eliminated.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the strikes were part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, which started on February 26. They said the action was in response to attacks by Afghan Taliban forces along the long border.

The conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan has grown since late last year, with border clashes and airstrikes. This hospital strike has raised serious concerns about civilian safety and regional stability.

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Shoaibur Rahman

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