New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has voiced its profound sorrow and condemnation following a Pakistani airstrike on a prominent addiction treatment facility in Kabul, which has resulted in the deaths of over 400 individuals and left at least 250 others injured, according to reports from Taliban officials and local media. This incident may become one of the most catastrophic events in the history of the Afghan capital.

In their statement, the ACB noted, “Eid Hopes Turned Into Mourning. The leadership of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, alongside the #AfghanAtalan team and staff, vehemently denounces all forms of violence against innocent civilians. We express our solidarity with the affected families and our people during this tragic period. What should have been a time of joy and celebration has transformed into profound sorrow and heartbreak. Lives that anticipated Eid, healing, and a hopeful future have been abruptly extinguished, leaving behind dreams shattered and families in mourning,” as shared on X.

The ACB further remarked, “The devastating assault by the Pakistani regime on a rehabilitation center, culminating in the loss of hundreds of innocent lives and injuries to many more, fills us with deep sadness. The occurrence of such a calamity during Ramadan intensifies the suffering.”

The board concluded their message with prayers for the victims and their families, stating, “We beseech Almighty Allah to grant the victims the highest status in Jannah and bestow patience, strength, and peace upon their families. Indeed, we belong to Allah, and to Him we shall return.”

Previously, Afghanistan all-rounder Rashid Khan also condemned the reported civilian losses from the recent airstrikes, labeling the targeting of civilian infrastructure as a “war crime” and calling for international bodies to investigate the incident.

In a message shared on X, the Afghan cricketer conveyed his distress over the fatalities of civilians due to the strikes, which local authorities indicate targeted a significant addiction treatment hospital in Kabul.

“I am profoundly saddened by the recent reports of civilian casualties resulting from the Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul. Targeting civilian homes, educational institutions, or medical facilities, whether intentional or accidental, constitutes a war crime. The blatant disregard for human life, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is both appalling and alarming. This will only exacerbate division and animosity. I urge the UN and other human rights organizations to conduct a thorough investigation into this latest atrocity and ensure accountability for the perpetrators. I stand in solidarity with my Afghan people during this challenging time. We shall heal, and our nation will rise again. Inshallah,” he expressed.