UN revises Kabul rehab strike toll as Pakistan denies targeting civilians

"The United Nations has recorded 143 deaths in an air strike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, significantly lower than the figure offered by Afghanistan's Taliban government. The attack on Kabul's Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital on Monday night has sharpened a bitter dispute between Pakistan and Afghanistan with the Taliban putting the casualties at more than 400 people killed and about 265 wounded."

"Hamdullah Fitrat, a deputy spokesman for the Taliban administration, said the strike hit the hospital, a 2,000-bed facility, destroying large sections of the building and triggering fires that rescue teams worked through the night to contain. Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid accused Pakistan of deliberately hitting civilian infrastructure and called the assault a crime against humanity."

"Pakistan's information minister, Attaullah Tarar, denied the allegation in an interview with Al Jazeera. We strongly refute and reject these allegations, he said on Tuesday, insisting his country only targeted terrorist infrastructure and military locations."

An air strike on Kabul's Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital on Monday night killed 143 people according to UN records, though Afghanistan's Taliban government claims over 400 deaths and 265 wounded. The Taliban blames Pakistan for the attack, while Pakistan denies involvement and claims it only targeted terrorist infrastructure and military locations. The strike destroyed large sections of the 2,000-bed facility and triggered fires. Afghan officials call the assault a crime against humanity targeting civilian infrastructure. The incident represents the latest escalation in ongoing cross-border violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with competing casualty claims complicating verification efforts.

Read at www.aljazeera.com