Air strike reported on Kabul medical facility

On Monday at approximately 9 p.m. local time, an air strike occurred in Kabul, Afghanistan. Taliban authorities reported that the strike hit the state-run Omid drug rehabilitation hospital, resulting in 408 deaths and 265 injuries. According to the Afghan interior ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qanie, the victims were primarily civilians and patients. In contrast, Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denied targeting a hospital, stating that the operation precisely targeted militant infrastructure. Pakistan attributed the high casualty count and fire to secondary explosions caused by ammunition depots allegedly stored at the site. This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing border conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has persisted for the last month. International observers, including India and China, have issued statements regarding the situation, with China calling for de-escalation. Reuters noted that the casualty figures provided by the Taliban could not be independently verified.