17.03.2026 21:13
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for peace in the face of health issues and rising tensions caused by conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ghebreyesus emphasized that the parties need to reduce tensions due to the impact on health facilities and deadly attacks.
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called on the parties to reduce tensions due to the ongoing conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Ghebreyesus made a statement regarding the issue on his account on the social media platform of the US-based company X.
CALL TO REDUCE TENSION FROM WHO
Noting that at least 6 health facilities in Afghanistan have been affected since the end of February due to the increase in conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ghebreyesus stated, "In a nighttime attack on the Omid Drug Addiction Treatment Center in Kabul, managed by the Ministry of Interior, more than 400 people undergoing substance addiction treatment were killed and at least 250 were injured."
Emphasizing that the WHO is working to verify these incidents, Ghebreyesus reported that the escalating conflict is putting additional pressure on health systems and increasing risks for the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
Calling on the parties to reduce tensions and prioritize peace and health, Ghebreyesus pointed out that peace is the best medicine.
PAKISTAN-AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT
On February 22, Pakistan targeted 7 locations along the border with Afghanistan, which it described as "terror camps," in response to recent bomb attacks claimed by the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) in the country.
The Afghan administration also carried out attacks on military facilities belonging to Islamabad along the border on February 26. In retaliation for these attacks, Pakistan began striking certain targets in Kabul and the border region.
Pakistan and Afghanistan experienced similar tensions in October 2025, and the parties met in Istanbul in November 2025 to discuss the details of a ceasefire, but the negotiations ended without results and were suspended.
Islamabad claims that the TTP is based in Afghanistan and organizes its attacks from there, while the Afghan administration denies these allegations.