India 'unequivocally condemns' Pakistan’s ‘cowardly, barbaric’ strike that killed 400 in Afghanistan

India on Tuesday "inequivocally condemned" Pakistan’s airstrike on a hospital in Kabul that killed around 400 people, calling it a “cowardly” and “barbaric” act of violence against civilians.

In an official statement, the MEA said the strike targeted the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital on the night of March 16, and could not be justified under any military pretext. It accused Pakistan of attempting to “dress up a massacre as a military operation”.

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The government described the attack as a blatant assault on Afghanistan’s sovereignty and warned that it posed a direct threat to regional peace and stability. It also alleged that the incident reflects a pattern of reckless behaviour by Pakistan and its attempts to externalise internal challenges through cross-border actions.

Calling the timing of the strike during the holy month of Ramzan particularly reprehensible, India said there was “no faith, law or morality” that could justify the deliberate targeting of a hospital and its patients.



India urged the international community to hold those responsible accountable and ensure that such attacks on civilians cease immediately.

It also extended condolences to the victims’ families, wished a speedy recovery to the injured, and reiterated its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.

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The latest escalation marks a sharp deterioration in ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite Islamabad’s long-standing role in backing the Taliban. Pakistan was instrumental in the Taliban’s rise in the 1990s, viewing the group as key to securing “strategic depth” in its regional rivalry with India.

Tensions, however, have intensified in recent months, with both sides carrying out air and ground strikes along the border. Pakistan has described the situation as nearing an “open war”, following a series of retaliatory attacks after militant strikes on its forces.

The Afghan Taliban have alleged that the latest strike on a Kabul hospital killed hundreds, a claim Pakistan has denied, maintaining that its operations targeted militant infrastructure and not civilian facilities.

At the heart of the conflict is Islamabad’s allegation that leaders and fighters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), along with Baloch insurgents, are operating from Afghan territory. Pakistan says cross-border militancy has risen sharply since 2022, with attacks increasing year after year.

Kabul, however, has rejected these claims, accusing Pakistan of harbouring rival militant groups and denying that Afghan soil is being used to launch attacks. The mistrust has led to repeated border clashes, closures and disruptions in trade and movement.

Earlier attempts to stabilise ties, including a fragile ceasefire brokered with the help of regional players, have failed to hold, underscoring the deepening rift between the two neighbours.