China urges calm as Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of deadly attack

China called on Afghanistan and Pakistan to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation, as tensions between the neighboring countries sharply intensified following a deadly airstrike.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated on Tuesday that Beijing hopes both sides will maintain calm and demonstrate self-restraint. He added that China has urged both countries to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel operating in the region.

Beijing also reaffirmed its intention to play what it described as a “constructive role” in promoting de-escalation between the two sides, signaling continued diplomatic engagement amid mounting instability in South Asia.

Deadly Kabul strike raises tensions
The appeal from China came as a spokesperson for the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan announced that at least 400 people were killed and 250 others injured in a Pakistani airstrike targeting a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul.
The strike marks a significant escalation in the conflict between the two countries, with Kabul describing the attack as a major violation that has deepened hostilities.

The reported targeting of a civilian medical facility has intensified concerns over the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing confrontation, particularly as casualties continue to rise.
Pakistan rejects allegations, defends strikes
Pakistan denied the accusations, describing them as “false and misleading,” and insisted that its military operations were precise and targeted.

Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said in a post on X that the strikes were directed at “military and terrorist targets, along with the infrastructure of the Afghan Taliban regime.”

“Secondary detonations witnessed in Kabul further confirm that the intended ammunition storage site was hit with precision,” he added.
Islamabad’s response underscores the widening narrative gap between the two sides, as each seeks to frame the incident in sharply contrasting terms.

Escalation threatens regional stability before Eid
The airstrike came just hours after China reiterated its readiness to continue mediation efforts between the two countries, urging both sides to avoid further escalation and return to negotiations.

The conflict, which erupted last month, is considered the most severe between Afghanistan and Pakistan in recent history. Despite earlier attempts by regional actors, including China, to contain the violence, fighting has resumed in recent days.

Afghanistan and Pakistan share a border stretching approximately 2,600 kilometers, making sustained conflict between them a significant threat to broader regional security.