New Delhi, Mar 17 (NVI): Expressing solidarity with Afghanistan, India strongly condemned Pakistani airstrike on a hospital in Kabul and highlighted that the “barbaric” act became “more reprehensible” considering the fact that it was carried out on Muslims during their holy month of Ramzan.
The Indian government said the international community “must hold the perpetrators of this criminal act accountable and ensure that the wanton targeting by Pakistan of civilians in Afghanistan ceases without delay.”
The last night’s airstrike on a hospital serving as a rehabilitation center for drug addicts has left over 400 people dead and more than 250 injured, as per the initial estimates made by the Afghan authorities.
“India unequivocally condemns Pakistan’s barbaric airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul on the night of March 16,” External Affairs Ministry said in a statement.
“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. Pakistan is now trying to dress up a massacre as a military operation,” it said.
“This 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,” it added.
The Indian government also highlighted the severity of the Pakistani action carried out during the Ramzan, a pious month for Muslims.
“That this 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,” the statement said.
“India extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, wishes a swift recovery to those injured, and stands in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in this tragic moment. We also reiterate our unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. (NVI)
