Kabul — Afghanistan has issued a strong warning to Pakistan following deadly airstrikes in Kabul, with officials vowing a “teeth-breaking response” to what they describe as a serious escalation.
According to Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Matin Qane, the strikes targeted the 2,000-bed Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in the Pul-e-Charkhi area of Kabul. Afghan authorities reported that at least 400 people were killed and around 250 injured. Rescue teams continued search operations, looking for victims trapped under debris.
Qane condemned the attack, calling it a violation of national sovereignty and stressing that such actions would not go unanswered. Afghan officials have described the incident as a major escalation in already strained relations between the two neighboring countries.
Tensions have been rising in recent weeks, with repeated exchanges of airstrikes, artillery fire, and cross-border accusations. Afghan authorities have criticized Pakistan’s military operations, particularly in eastern and southeastern regions, saying they have caused civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.
On the other hand, Islamabad maintains that its actions are aimed at militant groups allegedly operating from Afghan territory and launching attacks داخل Pakistan.
Earlier, on March 14, Afghan government deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat reported that earlier Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul had killed four people and injured 25. Additional strikes were also reported in provinces such as Kandahar, Paktika, Khost, and Nangarhar, including an oil depot hit in Kandahar.
The current escalation traces back to late February, when Taliban-led Afghan forces launched retaliatory actions against Pakistani military positions after Islamabad carried out strikes targeting militants inside Afghanistan. In response, Pakistan initiated an operation named “Operation Ghazab lil-Haq,” citing cross-border attacks by Afghan forces.
With both sides hardening their stance, the situation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border continues to deteriorate, raising concerns of a broader conflict in the region.