Pakistan rejects Afghan Taliban claim of Kabul hospital strike, calls it 'falsehood'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday strongly rejected allegations by the Afghan Taliban that its armed forces had struck a hospital in Kabul, asserting that the actual target was the military facility known as Camp Phoenix, located several kilometres away.

The clarification came amid ongoing operations under Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, launched on February 26 following what Islamabad described as unprovoked cross-border firing by Afghan Taliban forces. Officials said Pakistani strikes overnight targeted military installations in Kabul and Nangarhar.

In a fact-check statement, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Pakistan said that the alleged target, Omid Hospital, was “multiple kilometres away” from Camp Phoenix — described as a military site used for storing ammunition and equipment.

The ministry shared satellite imagery to support its position, noting clear structural differences between the hospital and the targeted facility. It also questioned why a supposed drug rehabilitation centre would be located alongside a military ammunition depot.

Authorities further alleged that the Afghan Taliban had deleted a social media post claiming a hospital strike after multiple fact-checks exposed inconsistencies. Another image shared by Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid was also debunked, with officials saying it dated back to May 2023 and had been misrepresented as evidence of a recent incident.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar dismissed the allegations as “baseless”, accusing the Afghan Taliban of spreading misinformation. He maintained that Pakistan’s actions were limited to “military and terrorist targets” linked to activities against the country.

“The strikes were precise, deliberate, and professional. No hospital or civilian facility was targeted,” Tarar said, adding that video footage of all six strikes had been released to demonstrate the nature of the targets.

He said the presence of secondary explosions in the footage confirmed that ammunition storage sites had been accurately hit. Calling the accusations part of a “pattern of deceit,” Tarar reiterated that Pakistan would continue to act against threats emanating from across the border.

Meanwhile, China urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to exercise restraint. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing hoped the two sides would remain calm and ensure the safety of Chinese personnel while continuing efforts to promote de-escalation.

Separately, the United Nations called for a swift and independent investigation into the incident, with rights office spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan stressing that findings should be made public.

Security sources said Pakistani forces also targeted and destroyed Afghan Taliban posts near the Khyber sector using anti-tank guided missiles, inflicting casualties and material losses. Another key post, referred to as “Jhanda post” in North Waziristan, was also reportedly destroyed.

Officials added that the operation targeted infrastructure linked to militant groups, including the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), as part of broader efforts to counter cross-border terrorism.

Pakistan has reiterated that it will take all necessary measures to defend its citizens and eliminate safe havens for militant groups operating from Afghan territory.