India on Tuesday strongly condemned Pakistani airstrike on a hospital in Kabul, calling it a “barbaric” and “cowardly” act.
In an official statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India “unequivocally condemns Pakistan’s barbaric airstrike” on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul on the night of March 16.
The MEA said that “the 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.”
“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,” the MEA said, adding that the “heinous act of aggression by Pakistan is also a blatant assault on Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a direct threat to regional peace and stability. It reflects Pakistan’s persistent pattern of reckless behaviour and its repeated attempts to externalize internal failures through increasingly desperate acts of violence beyond its borders.”
The MEA also criticised what it described as Pakistan’s attempt “to dress up a massacre as a military operation”, and called on the international community to “hold the perpetrators of this criminal act accountable and ensure that the wanton targeting by Pakistan of civilians in Afghanistan ceases without delay.”
Heavy casualties reported
According to a spokesperson of the Afghan Taliban administration, at least 400 people were killed and around 250 injured in the strike on the hospital, a major drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul.
The hospital, established in 2016, reportedly had the capacity to treat hundreds of patients and offered rehabilitation and vocational training.
Global concern
Reacting to the developments, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett expressed concern over reports of civilian casualties and urged all parties to de-escalate.
“I urge parties to exercise maximum restraint and respect international law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects such as hospitals,” he said.
Meanwhile, India also extended deepest condolences to the bereaved families, wishing a swift recovery to those injured. The MEA said that India stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in this tragic moment and reiterated “unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan.”
India points out Pakistan’s persecution of Ahmadiyyas at UN
Delivering India’s statement at the observance of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia at the United Nations General Assembly, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, outlined New Delhi’s position on tackling religious discrimination and extremism.
India accused Pakistan of “weaponising religious narratives” for political purposes and raising unfounded allegations of Islamophobia against India.
Harish pointed to what he described as contradictions in Pakistan’s stance, referring to the treatment of minority communities such as Ahmadiyyas, the reported deportation of Afghan refugees, and military actions during the holy month of Ramadan.
He also alleged that Pakistan has repeatedly used platforms such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to level “false and baseless allegations” against India.
Emphasising India’s diversity, the envoy noted that the country is home to over 200 million Muslims, making it one of the largest Muslim populations in the world.
He added that India remains committed to ensuring peaceful coexistence among all communities, rejecting claims of religious discrimination.
Concluding his remarks, Harish reaffirmed India’s commitment to building inclusive societies grounded in equality, dignity and rule of law.
He urged the United Nations to focus its efforts on addressing all forms of religious hatred and to avoid politicisation of faith-based issues.
