Kashmir reacts with grief, anger to Kabul hospital strike during Ramadan

The timing of the attack during Ramadan added a layer of emotional intensity, with many users calling it a violation of the sanctity of the holy month.

Srinagar: The reported bombing of a hospital in Kabul during Ramadan earlier this week, which allegedly left over 400 people dead, has triggered a wave of grief and anger across Kashmir, with social media platforms turning into a space of mourning, outrage, and sharply worded political reactions.

Kashmiri users across Facebook and X condemned the targeting of a medical facility, with many blaming Pakistan and calling it a grave violation of humanitarian norms.

Describing the attack as “barbaric” and “beyond humanity,” users stressed that hospitals and patients must remain protected even in conflict zones.

Among the prominent reactions, Iltija Mufti took to X to denounce the strike, calling it a “war crime” and stating that such acts were “a crime against humanity,” especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

Her post, accompanied by disturbing visuals from the site, was widely shared and amplified across the Valley.

A widely circulated Facebook post by political activist Salman Nizami termed the strike a “shameful act” and called the killing of patients the “lowest form of cowardice.”

The post gained significant traction, with users echoing similar sentiments and expressing anguish over the scale of civilian casualties.

Anger on social media also took a political turn. A section of users openly criticised Pakistan’s leadership, with several posts targeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir.

While there has been no official confirmation linking Islamabad to the attack, the intensity of such reactions underscored deep distrust and charged perceptions surrounding regional conflicts.

The outrage was further fuelled by the circulation of photos and videos purportedly showing the aftermath of the bombing. The visuals—depicting injured civilians, wrecked hospital infrastructure and scenes of chaos—were widely shared, with many users calling them “disturbing” and “heart-wrenching.”

“The images are unbearable. This is not warfare, this is slaughter,” read one widely shared post.

The timing of the attack during Ramadan added to the emotional intensity, with many calling it a violation of the sanctity of the holy month. Hashtags expressing solidarity with Afghan victims trended among sections of Kashmiri social media.

Commenting on the reaction, a faculty member at the University of Kashmir said such incidents were reshaping public sentiment.

“There is visible anger, especially when civilians are targeted in places meant for healing. Acts like these are pushing Kashmiris further away from Pakistan, as people increasingly reject violence as a means,” he said.

Civil society members also condemned the attack, calling for accountability and protection of civilian infrastructure in conflict zones.

The episode highlights how distant conflicts continue to resonate in Kashmir, where empathy for victims is often intertwined with evolving political perceptions and strong public reactions.