New Delhi (India) March 17:A tragic airstrike carried out by Pakistan on a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan , has left at least 400 people dead, according to the Taliban government. The attack, which targeted a facility that treated drug addicts, has sparked outrage and condemnation from many, including prominent Afghan cricketers.
The airstrike occurred on Monday, but Pakistan has denied hitting civilian sites in its military operations in Kabul. Taliban officials, however, described the damage to the hospital as severe, and the scale of the loss has been overwhelming.
Rashid Khan Slams 'War Crime'
Captain Rashid Khan, a star player for Afghanistan's T20 cricket team , expressed his sorrow on social media.
Rashid wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties as a result of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul. Targeting civilian homes, educational facilities or medical infrastructure, either intentional or by mistake, is a war crime. The sheer disregard for human lives, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is sickening and deeply concerning. I call upon the UN and other human rights agencies to thoroughly investigate this latest atrocity and hold the perpetrators to account. I stand with my Afghan people in this difficult time. We shall heal, and we will rise as a nation. We always do. Inshallah”
Nabi Mourns Lost Lives on Ramadan
Cricketer Mohammad Nabi also shared his grief online, mourning the lives lost in this devastating incident.
Nabi said, "Tonight in Kabul, hope was extinguished at a hospital. Young men seeking treatment were murdered in a bombing by the Pakistani military regime. Mothers waited at the gates, calling their sons’ names. On the 28th night of Ramadan, their lives were cut short.”
ACB Condemns Attack
The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has condemned the airstrikes, emphasizing that the attacks during the holy month of Ramadan have deepened the pain for many.
ACB wrote, “Eid Hopes Turned Into Mourning.
Afghanistan Cricket Board’s leadership, along with the #AfghanAtalan lineup and staff, strongly condemns all acts of violence against innocent people. We stand in solidarity with the affected families and our people during this difficult time.
What should have been moments of joy and celebration have instead turned into grief and heartbreak. Lives that were looking forward to Eid, to healing, and to a brighter tomorrow were tragically cut short, leaving behind shattered dreams and grieving families.”
Videos Go Viral, Death Toll Reaches 400
In the aftermath, videos and images have surfaced on social media and local television, showing security personnel searching through the rubble and firefighters working to extinguish flames among the wreckage.
Initially, Taliban representatives reported that 200 people had died, but that number was later revised to 400, highlighting the tragic extent of the incident. This has led to widespread sorrow and outrage across Afghanistan, with many citizens calling for an international inquiry into the attack.