Pakistan Rejects Taliban Hospital Strike Claim, Says Target Was Military Site
By Tahir Shah :
Pakistan has dismissed allegations by the Afghan Taliban that its forces struck a hospital in Kabul, insisting the operation targeted a military facility located several kilometres away.
The claim comes amid ongoing military action under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, launched on 26 February following what officials described as unprovoked cross-border fire. Authorities said Pakistani forces carried out overnight strikes on Taliban-linked installations in Kabul and Nangarhar earlier this week.
In a statement shared online, the information ministry said the facility identified by the Taliban as Omid Hospital was not the target. Instead, it said the strikes were aimed at Camp Phoenix, described as a site used for storing ammunition and equipment.
Officials shared satellite images to support the assertion, saying the hospital and the targeted location were clearly distinct in both structure and distance. They added that the hospital was a multi-storey building, unlike the site that was hit.
The ministry also questioned the Taliban’s account, asking why a medical or rehabilitation facility would be located alongside what it described as a military storage site.
It further claimed that a social media post by Taliban sources referring to a damaged rehabilitation centre had been deleted, raising doubts about the accuracy of the initial claim. Another image presented as evidence by Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid was said to be from 2023, not linked to the latest incident.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also rejected the allegations, calling them baseless and part of a pattern of misinformation.
He said Pakistan’s military operations were limited to “military and terrorist infrastructure” used to plan or support attacks inside Pakistan. He added that the strikes in Kabul and Nangarhar were carried out with precision and did not target civilian facilities.
“The intended targets included ammunition depots and other installations linked to hostile activity,” he said, adding that footage released by authorities showed secondary explosions consistent with weapons storage sites.
Tarar warned that militant threats originating from Afghan territory remained a serious concern, adding that Pakistan would continue to act against groups it says are involved in cross-border attacks.
China urges restraint
Meanwhile, China called on both sides to avoid escalation. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to exercise restraint and return to dialogue.
He said Beijing was continuing efforts to ease tensions and had recently engaged both sides in mediation.
Fighting continues along border
Security officials said Pakistani forces also targeted Taliban positions near the Khyber sector using guided missiles, reporting casualties and material losses on the opposing side.
Separately, a post known as “Jhanda post” in North Waziristan was said to have been destroyed during the operation.
Authorities maintain that the campaign is focused on dismantling infrastructure used by armed groups, including those referred to by the state as Fitna al Khawarij, a term used for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Pakistan has reiterated that it will continue taking action to counter threats and prevent militant groups from using neighbouring territory to launch attacks.
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