IPL-bound Afghanistan cricketer reaches out to India for help after Pakistan’s airstrike kills close to 400 in Kabul
Condemning the attack, Afghanistan cricketer Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar made an emotional appeal to India, seeking urgent support.
At least 400 people were reportedly killed and around 250 injured after what Afghan authorities described as a Pakistani airstrike hit a major drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul late Monday night. Islamabad, however, denied targeting civilians, stating the operation was aimed at militant infrastructure.

Condemning the attack, Afghanistan cricketer Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar made an emotional appeal to India, seeking urgent support.
Authorities in Kabul said the strike hit a large rehabilitation facility around 9 pm local time, destroying the 2000-bed complex. Massive fires broke out, with rescue workers scrambling through debris in search of survivors. The incident underscores rapidly deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Taliban administration, with both sides trading accusations over cross-border security threats.
Ghazanfar, who was signed by Mumbai Indians and is set to feature in IPL 2026, said the centre housed thousands of vulnerable patients.
“The people there don’t have money for treatment. And now, they’ve targeted that place as well; they’ve martyred those people. This is not acceptable to the people of Afghanistan,” he told News18.
While Afghan officials blamed Pakistan for the strike, Islamabad maintained that it was a “precision operation” targeting militant bases linked to attacks on its soil.
"I don’t know what they’re trying to prove. They come and target ordinary people, and we simply cannot accept this. Afghanistan cannot accept this," Ghazanfar added. “Everyone knows Afghanistan’s history. If that history repeats itself, it will be very bad for Pakistan."
He also called for international intervention, including from India.
“India is our close friend. We want to engage with them, to talk about these issues, so that things like this don’t happen. This is our request to other countries too. This is not good for the people. Right now, the world is going through many challenges, and this is not good for anyone," he said.
Several Afghan cricketers echoed similar sentiments. Rashid Khan said he was “deeply saddened” by reports of civilian casualties, adding that targeting civilian infrastructure “amounts to a war crime.”
Veteran all-rounder Mohammad Nabi also reacted, posting on X that the attack had “extinguished hope” at a medical facility, describing the loss as devastating.
ABOUT THE AUTHORAratrick MondalAratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More



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