An Afghan government spokesperson on 17/3 accused Pakistan of targeting a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul, resulting in at least 400 deaths and 250 injuries.

Security personnel at the scene of the airstrike in Kabul on 17/3. Photo: AFP

Security personnel at the scene of the airstrike in Kabul on 17/3. Photo: AFP

Pakistan immediately denied the accusation, calling the Afghan government's statement false and misleading. It asserted that its forces had "precisely targeted military facilities."

"Secondary explosions visible after the attacks clearly indicate the presence of large ammunition depots," stated Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar.

The conflict, which began last month, marks the most serious escalation to date between Afghanistan and Pakistan, two neighboring countries sharing a 2,600 km border. The reason is prolonged tension between Pakistan and the Taliban government in Afghanistan, primarily concerning Islamabad's accusation that Kabul allows insurgent groups to use Afghan territory as a sanctuary for attacks within Pakistan.

China, a neighbor to both Afghanistan and Pakistan, has expressed readiness to mediate and ease tensions between the two sides. Beijing urged both nations to avoid escalating the conflict and return to the negotiating table.

Ngoc Anh (According to Reuters, CNN)