Pakistan Rejects Kabul Strike Claims: Dispute Over Hospital Attack
Pakistan has rejected Kabul strike claims made by Afghanistan about an alleged hospital attack. Officials called the reports false and misleading. They said the claims aimed to stir emotions and hide cross-border concerns.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated that Pakistan carried out precise strikes on March 16. Moreover, it said the targets included militant infrastructure in Kabul and Nangarhar. As a result, officials denied any damage to civilian healthcare facilities.
Conflicting Claims Over Target
Afghan Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the strike hit the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital. He claimed the attack killed 400 people and injured 250 others. In addition, he said rescue teams were working to control fires and recover bodies.
However, Pakistan strongly rejected these Kabul strike claims. The ministry stated that the targeted site was Camp Phoenix. It described the location as a storage facility for ammunition and equipment.
Officials added that post-strike explosions came from stored weapons. Therefore, they argued this contradicts the hospital attack narrative. They also questioned why a medical facility would exist near a military storage site.
Disinformation and Rising Tensions
Pakistan also accused Afghan officials of spreading outdated visuals. The ministry said one widely shared image dated back to May 2023. As a result, it called the claims a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
Officials stressed that such actions damage credibility. Furthermore, they warned that misinformation can escalate tensions. The ministry maintained that the Kabul strike claims serve propaganda purposes.
This dispute comes during ongoing clashes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. Operation Ghazab Lil Haq continues after recent hostilities. Therefore, tensions between the two neighbours remain high.
