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TALIBAN ACCUSES PAKISTAN OF “WAR CRIME” WHILE ISLAMABAD DENIES RESPONSIBILITY
By OPEN CHRONICLE STAFF
KABUL — In what is being described as one of the deadliest aerial bombardments in the history of the Afghan conflict, a massive air strike struck a major medical facility in the heart of Kabul early Tuesday, leaving at least 400 people dead and hundreds more fighting for their lives.
The Afghan Taliban administration immediately pointed the finger at Pakistan, alleging that Pakistani aircraft breached Afghan airspace to carry out the strike. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid characterized the incident as a “heinous war crime” and a “blatant violation of international law,” asserting that the vast majority of the victims were patients, medical staff, and civilians seeking refuge.
“The world must not remain silent in the face of such carnage,” Mujahid said in a televised statement. “A hospital is a sanctuary, yet it has been turned into a graveyard by foreign aggression.”
BREAKING 🚨
🇵🇰 🇦🇫 UN rights expert labels Pakistan’s Kabul hospital strike a war crime.
Over 400 civilians dead, 300+ injured in PAF bombing. pic.twitter.com/9k6v8vLV0n
— FalconUpdatesHQ (@FalconUpdatesHQ) March 17, 2026
A Scene of Devastation
Witnesses described a scene of absolute horror as the munitions struck the multi-story facility, causing a partial collapse and igniting fires that raged for hours. Rescue workers, hampered by the threat of further strikes and a lack of heavy machinery, used their bare hands to pull survivors from the twisted rebar and scorched concrete.
“The sky turned white, and then the earth shook,” said Ahmad Wali, a resident who was near the hospital during the attack. “When the dust settled, the hospital, a place where people go to be healed, was just a smoking pile of rubble. We heard the screams of those trapped inside, but the heat was too intense to reach them.”
Health officials in Kabul report that over 250 individuals have been hospitalized with life-altering injuries, including severe burns and shrapnel wounds. With the city’s medical infrastructure already strained by years of economic isolation, local doctors are pleading for international aid and emergency medical supplies.
Islamabad Issues Denial
In Islamabad, Pakistani officials moved quickly to distance themselves from the tragedy. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a formal statement rejecting the Taliban’s claims as “baseless and inflammatory.”
“Pakistan has not conducted any air operations within Afghan territory,” the statement read. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and remain committed to regional peace. Such accusations only serve to escalate tensions between our two nations.”
Despite the denial, military analysts noted that tensions between the two neighbors have reached a boiling point in recent weeks, fueled by cross-border skirmishes and mutual accusations of harboring militant groups.
International Outcry
The strike has drawn swift condemnation from the international community. Humanitarian organizations have called for an independent investigation into the incident, warning that the targeting of medical facilities is a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions.
“This is a dark day for humanity,” said a representative for a global human rights watchdog. “Whether this was a targeted strike or a catastrophic intelligence failure, the result is a monumental loss of innocent life that cannot be ignored.”
As the sun sets over Kabul, the smell of smoke still hangs heavy in the air. For a city that has known decades of war, the scale of today’s loss has left even the most resilient residents in a state of profound shock and mourning.