The mango that broke a market
It is peak mango season in India. The Alphonso harvest is at its richest, the Kesar at its most fragrant.
India on Tuesday issued a sharp condemnation of Pakistan after an airstrike in Kabul hit a drug rehabilitation hospital, reportedly killing hundreds of civilians and injuring many more. Calling the attack “cowardly and unconscionable”, New Delhi urged the international community to ensure accountability.
The strike, which Afghan authorities say targeted the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, has further escalated already tense relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The incident has also drawn global attention, with competing claims over what exactly was targeted and who bears responsibility.
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In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the attack on the hospital, a civilian facility, could not be justified under any circumstances. It accused Pakistan of attempting to portray the incident as a military operation despite heavy civilian casualties.
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“This is a cowardly and unconscionable act of violence that has claimed the lives of a large number of civilians in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military target. Pakistan is now trying to dress up a massacre as a military operation”, the statement said.
India also described the strike as a violation of Afghanistan’s sovereignty and warned that such actions threaten regional peace. It further criticised the timing of the attack during the holy month of Ramzan, calling it especially disturbing.
“That this attack was carried out during the holy month of Ramzan, a time of peace, reflection, and mercy among Muslim communities across the world, makes it all the more reprehensible. There is no faith, no law, and no morality that can justify the deliberate targeting of a hospital and its patients”, the statement said.
New Delhi expressed condolences to the victims’ families, wished a quick recovery to the injured, and reiterated support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty. It also called on the global community to act against those responsible.
Heavy casualties, conflicting claims emerge
Afghan officials said around 400 people were killed and about 250 were injured after the strike on Monday evening at the 2,000-bed hospital in Kabul. Large sections of the facility were destroyed, and rescue teams are still working through debris to recover bodies and control fires.
Taliban spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the strike was carried out by Pakistan at around 9 pm. Afghan media reports indicated that nearby homes were also damaged, with multiple buildings suffering structural impact.
However, Pakistani authorities have denied targeting the hospital. According to reports cited by Samaa News, Pakistan said its forces struck locations linked to Taliban infrastructure, including ammunition storage and technical facilities in Kabul and Nangarhar. It dismissed claims of hitting the hospital as “ridiculous”.
Other reports suggest strikes also took place in Nangarhar province, where multiple sites linked to Taliban operations were allegedly hit.
Tensions spike as Afghanistan warns of retaliation
The incident has triggered strong reactions within Afghanistan. Officials have termed the strike a serious escalation and warned of a response.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Matin Qane said the attack would not go unanswered, describing it as a breach of Afghanistan’s sovereignty. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also issued a warning, saying the time for diplomacy with Pakistan was over.
The latest developments come amid rising hostilities between the two neighbours, marked by cross-border strikes, artillery fire, and mutual accusations in recent weeks.
At the United Nations, India also raised concerns over Pakistan’s actions, including air operations during Ramzan and the deportation of Afghan nationals. India’s Permanent Representative Parvathaneni Harish criticised what he described as attempts to misuse religious narratives while carrying out such actions.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that thousands of families have been displaced in border regions due to ongoing shelling, with many forced to live in temporary shelters.
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