Pakistan Strikes Hospital in Afghanistan, Killing Hundreds

Amid a wave of military strikes into Afghan territory, the Afghan Taliban has alleged that Pakistan also hit a hospital, killing hundreds of people.

According to the Taliban, the strike made a direct hit on a rehabilitation hospital for drug users at 9 pm local time, leaving behind charred remains of the building, which was known as the Omid hospital. At least 400 people have been confirmed dead, and more than 250 others were injured.

Rescue teams arrived quickly to handle the resulting fire, and search crews are still looking for survivors who may be trapped under the rubble. Videos circulating online and on social media showed one building engulfed in flames, while smoke billowed from other sections of the facility.

Pakistan denied the allegations of any strike taking place, insisting that they had solely targeted military-related locations and weapons storage spaces belonging to the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban. Pakistan accused the Taliban of fabricating the story to draw international support and sympathy, pointing out that the secondary explosions that followed their strikes signified the existence of ammunition depots.

The Taliban quickly launched retaliation attacks, hitting Pakistan with several airstrikes. However, not many details have been available to the public.

Unfortunately, if the hospital had been used as some sort of terrorist hub, it wouldn't be the first time something similar had taken place. During Israel's war against Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were known for specifically striking hospitals. This was because Hamas deliberately hid terrorist infrastructure, weapons and supplies, and even entire operations centers underneath hospitals to protect themselves from strikes.

The attack also comes during a time of extreme tension and unsettlement across the Middle East and South Asia– although Pakistan and Afghanistan have been fighting for almost a month, the world has remained focused on the US-Iran war.

Pakistan believes that Afghanistan is harboring the Tehrik-e-Taliban – a Pakistani, anti-governmental terrorist group – and providing them with supplies to destabilize and attack their nation. Afghanistan has denied those claims, but Pakistan continues to strike weapons depots and military installations inside Afghanistan to attempt to weaken the Tehrik-e-Taliban's alleged presence there.

Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): The NYPD had a police officer follow Andre the Giant whenever he went out drinking. This was to make sure he didn’t get drunk and fall on anyone.

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): It is impossible to make your own luck without the ingredient of hard work. (Matshona Dhliwayo)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Putative (adj, PYOO-tuh-tiv) - Putative is a formal word used to describe something that is generally believed, supposed, or assumed to be something specified. It is always used before a noun.

In a Sentence: The group's putative leader was conspicuously absent from the meeting.

Image credit to AFP