‘Cowardly Act of Violence’: India Blasts Pakistan Over Deadly Kabul Hospital Strike

India has strongly condemned Pakistan’s airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, describing it as a “barbaric” and “cowardly” act that targeted civilians and cannot be justified as a military operation.

In a statement released on March 17, 2026, India’s Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson expressed unequivocal outrage over the incident, which occurred on the night of March 16. The attack struck a major drug rehabilitation facility in the Afghan capital, resulting in significant civilian casualties. Reports from Afghan sources, including the Taliban government, indicate that at least 400 people were killed and around 250 injured, though exact figures remain under verification amid ongoing rescue efforts.

The hospital, a 2,000-bed center dedicated to treating individuals with addiction issues, was hit during a period of heightened cross-border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Afghan officials have condemned the strike as a deliberate assault on a civilian medical site, with no nearby military targets, labeling it a massacre and a crime against humanity. Rescue operations have been complicated by fires and structural damage, as eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes of destruction and desperate searches for survivors.

Pakistan has rejected these accusations, insisting that its military actions were precise strikes against militant installations and terrorist support infrastructure linked to groups operating in Kabul and Nangarhar provinces. Islamabad described Afghan claims of targeting the hospital as “false and misleading,” maintaining that the operation focused solely on security threats.

India’s statement highlighted the attack’s timing during the holy month of Ramadan—a period revered for peace, reflection, and mercy in Muslim communities worldwide—making the act particularly reprehensible. No faith, law, or moral code, the spokesperson argued, can excuse the deliberate targeting of a hospital and its vulnerable patients.

The condemnation framed the incident as part of Pakistan’s broader pattern of reckless behavior, accusing Islamabad of externalizing its internal challenges through escalating cross-border violence. This “heinous act of aggression,” India asserted, represents a blatant violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and poses a direct threat to regional peace and stability.

India called on the international community to hold those responsible accountable and to ensure an immediate end to such wanton targeting of civilians in Afghanistan. The statement extended deepest condolences to the bereaved families, wished swift recovery to the injured, and reaffirmed India’s solidarity with the Afghan people during this tragic time. It also reiterated unwavering support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The airstrike has intensified already strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, amid ongoing border clashes and accusations of harboring militants. The incident comes against a backdrop of regional instability, drawing widespread attention and calls for de-escalation and independent investigation from various quarters.

As rescue and recovery efforts continue in Kabul, the event underscores the fragile security dynamics in the region and the human cost of cross-border conflicts. India’s firm stance aligns with its consistent advocacy for peaceful resolutions and respect for international norms protecting civilian infrastructure in times of conflict.