Kabul hospital strike raised at UN
India alleged Pakistan carried out a deadly airstrike on a treatment hospital during Ramadan
India strongly criticised Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council, accusing Islamabad of having a “long-tainted record of genocidal acts” and targeting civilians through cross-border violence in Afghanistan.
Speaking during the annual UNSC Open Debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Harish Parvathaneni, cited reports by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and accused Pakistan of repeatedly violating humanitarian norms.
“It is ironic that Pakistan, with its long-tainted record of genocidal acts, has chosen to refer to issues that are strictly internal to India. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has reported that in the first three months of 2026, 750 civilian deaths and injuries were documented in Afghanistan as a result of cross border armed violence perpetrated by Pakistani military forces, most of which occurred due to air strikes,” he said.
India cites UNAMA report on civilian casualties
The Indian envoy said UNAMA documentation attributed 94 out of 95 civilian casualty incidents to Pakistani security forces.
Parvathaneni further alleged that Pakistan carried out an airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul during the holy month of Ramadan, killing hundreds of civilians.
“The world has not forgotten that it was during the holy month of Ramadan in March this year, at a time of peace, reflection, and mercy, that Pakistan conducted a barbaric airstrike on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul. Again, according to UNAMA, this cowardly and unconscionable act of violence claimed the lives of 269 civilians and injured a further 122 in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military target,” he said.
“Pakistan ignored calls to protect civilians”
India accused Pakistan of disregarding international humanitarian obligations and continuing aggressive military actions despite repeated global appeals to protect civilians.
“It is hypocritical to espouse high principles of international law while targeting innocent civilians in the dark. The air strikes by Pakistan occurred at the conclusion of tarawih evening prayers, when numerous patients were leaving the masjid, as per UNAMA,” Parvathaneni said.
He also referred to appeals made by the UN Secretary-General urging countries to uphold humanitarian commitments in Afghanistan.
“It bears emphasis that the UN Secretary General called on member states to uphold their international obligations in relation to protection of civilians, including the principle of non-refoulement in the context of Afghanistan. Clearly, Pakistan has chosen to ignore this call completely,” he added.
India raises cross-border terrorism issue
India also used the forum to raise concerns over cross-border terrorism and displacement caused by violence.
“As per UNAMA, over 94,000 people were assessed as displaced due to cross border armed violence perpetrated against Afghan civilians. But, such heinous acts of aggression by Pakistan should not come as a surprise from a country that bombs its own people and conducts systematic genocide,” the Indian envoy said.
The remarks marked yet another sharp exchange between India and Pakistan at the United Nations over terrorism and regional security concerns.
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