EU Condemns Attack on Afghan Medical Facility as ‘Deadly Escalation’

(MENAFN) The European Union expressed alarm on Tuesday over a recent attack on a medical facility in Afghanistan, labeling it a "deadly escalation" in the ongoing conflict, as stated by reports.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib stressed that civilian and medical facilities “must never be targeted,” noting that such sites are protected under international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions.

"We call on both sides to exercise maximum restraint and take all feasible measures to minimize the risk of harming civilians," they said in a joint statement. The EU also voiced support for global appeals to establish an immediate ceasefire and resume dialogue between Pakistan and Afghanistan's "de facto" authorities.

According to reports, the Afghan government claimed late Monday that Pakistani airstrikes struck the 2,000-bed Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul, resulting in at least 408 deaths, as stated by Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qani. Pakistan denied targeting the hospital, asserting that its operations focused on Afghan military installations and ammunition depots in Kabul and eastern Nangarhar province.

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