Kabul, March 17: Afghanistan cricket star Rashid Khan has condemned the reported civilian casualties from recent airstrikes by Pakistan in Kabul, calling the targeting of civilian infrastructure a “war crime” and urging international bodies to investigate the incident.

In a post on X, the Afghan cricketer expressed deep sorrow over reports that civilians were killed in the strikes, which local officials say hit a major addiction treatment hospital in the Afghan capital.

“I am deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties as a result of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul,” Khan wrote. “Targeting civilian homes, educational facilities or medical infrastructure, either intentional or by mistake, is a war crime.”

He added that the reported attacks during the holy month of Ramadan were particularly disturbing.

“The sheer disregard for human lives, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is sickening and deeply concerning. It will only fuel division and hatred,” Khan said in the post.

The cricketer also urged international organisations to take action and ensure accountability for the reported attack.

“I call upon the UN and other human rights agencies to thoroughly investigate this latest atrocity and hold the perpetrators to account. I stand with my Afghan people in this difficult time. We shall heal, and we will rise as a nation. We always do. Inshallah,” he wrote.

His remarks come after Taliban officials reported that an airstrike late Monday struck the 2,000-bed Umid addiction treatment hospital in Kabul. Authorities said hundreds of patients and civilians were believed to be inside the facility when the attack occurred.

According to officials of the Taliban-led government, the strike killed more than 400 people and injured at least 250 others, although the figures could not be independently verified.

Deputy spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, said the bombing caused extensive destruction across the hospital complex, while health officials reported that many sections of the facility had been severely damaged.

Rescue teams continued search and recovery operations through the night as emergency responders worked to treat the wounded and recover victims from the debris.

Tehran, March 16: India has again warned its citizens in Iran not to attempt to cross any land border without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy in Tehran.

In an advisory on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Tehran said, “In continuation/ reiteration of our advisory of March 9, all Indian nationals currently in Iran are strictly advised not to approach or attempt to cross any land border of Iran for onward travel without prior and explicit coordination with the Embassy of India, Tehran.”

The Embassy stated that it is in regular contact with members of the Indian community, and coordinated arrangements are being undertaken wherever necessary.

“Uncoordinated movement toward land borders is strongly discouraged,” it said.

Indian nationals who attempt to leave Iran via land borders without the knowledge and guidance of the Embassy, it said, are “highly likely to encounter serious logistical and immigration difficulties”.

“Please note that the Embassy will not be in a position to provide assistance once individuals move outside Iranian territory without prior coordination,” the advisory read.

“All Indian nationals in Iran are therefore urged to strictly follow Embassy advisories and remain in touch with official channels, and before undertaking any travel,” it added.

Meanwhile, the first batch of 70 Indian students evacuated from Iran via Armenia has safely landed in Delhi, the J&K Students Association (JKSA) announced on Sunday.

Nasir Khuehami, national convenor of the JKSA, said: “The first batch of more than 70 Indian students — the majority of them from Jammu and Kashmir, along with several pilgrims — who had been stranded in Iran amid the ongoing war-like situation in the region, safely arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, on a commercial flight this morning as part of the initial phase of the evacuation process.

“The students returned to India via a connecting journey through Armenia and Dubai after undertaking a long and difficult land and air transit arranged in coordination with the concerned authorities.”

These students travelled from different cities in Iran by bus and crossed into Armenia, from where they boarded a Flydubai flight from Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan to Dubai. From Dubai, the passengers boarded another connecting Flydubai flight that landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport at around 9.45 a.m. on Sunday.

The majority of the returning students had been studying at various universities across Iran, including Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, and other universities across the country. Many of them had earlier been relocated to safer locations by the Indian Embassy in Tehran amid the deteriorating security situation.

The Association expressed gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Tehran for facilitating the safe evacuation and ensuring the students’ return to India during a challenging situation. This development has brought much-needed relief to students and families across Kashmir who had been deeply worried about the safety of their children in the conflict-affected region.

Washington, March 16: US fighter jets have targeted Iran’s military positions near the Chabahar Free Trade Zone, according to reports.

The sounds of explosion were heard in the area behind the Chabahar Free Trade Zone, Al Jazeera reported, citing Voice of America’s Persian language service.

The free trade zone is located in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province near the border with Pakistan.

The reports come amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia which erupted following US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which killed Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military officials. In response, Iran has targeted both US assets and civilian sites, including airports, ports and oil facilities across the Gulf.

As the conflict entered its third week and global energy markets remained under pressure due to the near-halt in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, senior officials in the Trump administration said that the war with Iran could end within weeks.

Speaking on ABC’s This Week, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the administration believed the military campaign was progressing quickly.

“Hey, there’s no guarantees in wars at all,” Wright said in the interview with ABC News anchor Martha Raddatz.

But he added that officials expected the conflict to conclude soon.

“I think that this conflict will certainly come to an end in the next few weeks, could — could be sooner than that,” Wright said.

Meanwhile, Iran has rejected suggestions that it is seeking a ceasefire in the ongoing war, saying it will continue fighting and defending itself as long as necessary.

In an interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi denied that Tehran had requested a ceasefire or negotiations with Washington.

“No, we never asked for a cease-fire, and we have never asked even for negotiation,” Araghchi told CBS moderator Margaret Brennan.

He said Iran would continue its military response to what it described as aggression by the United States.

“We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes,” Araghchi said.

The foreign minister argued that the conflict had been initiated by Washington and accused President Donald Trump of choosing war.

“This is a war of choice by President Trump and the United States, and we are going to continue our self-defense,” he said.

Araghchi also dismissed suggestions that Tehran needed to negotiate to survive the conflict.

“No, it’s not a war of survival. We are stable and strong enough,” he said.