New Delhi, March 17 (ANI) — Former Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha on Tuesday condemned Pakistan’s recent airstrikes in Afghanistan as a ‘major escalation,’ and described the reported bombing of a Kabul hospital as a ‘war crime.’
Sinha was speaking after the reported strike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, which Afghan officials say killed hundreds of civilians who were receiving treatment. He said the bombardment cannot be justified on military grounds and marked a significant shift in the cross-border conflict because Pakistan has begun using air power since October last year.
The former envoy suggested the strikes reflect both ‘frustration and arrogance’ by Islamabad toward the Taliban-led Afghan authorities, and warned that Pakistan may be exploiting Afghanistan’s lack of air capability to act with impunity. He cautioned that the escalation risks further destabilizing an already volatile region, especially amid heightened tensions in West Asia.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs also strongly condemned the attack, calling it a ‘cowardly and unconscionable act of violence.’ In its statement, the MEA said India ‘unequivocally condemns Pakistan’s barbaric airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul’ and argued the facility could not be justified as a military target. The ministry urged the international community to hold those responsible to account, reiterated support for Afghanistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and extended condolences to victims and families.
Afghan officials and local media reported heavy casualties. Tolo News, citing deputy Islamic Emirate spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, reported the death toll had risen to about 400 with some 250 injured, and described massive destruction at the rehabilitation centre. Many of the victims were patients and staff present during the night-time strike.
Observers say the incident will further strain already fragile Kabul–Islamabad relations and could have broader implications for stability in Afghanistan, which has faced persistent conflict since the 2021 withdrawal of US and NATO forces. This report is based on accounts and statements received from ANI and Afghan officials.
