New Delhi | The Congress on Tuesday condemned the air strike by Pakistan that hit a hospital in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul and asserted that such barbarism must be strongly rejected globally.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "On behalf of the Indian National Congress we are deeply distressed by the horrific loss of civilian lives in Kabul following the recent air strikes by Pakistan on a hospital which killed nearly 400 people." "We condemn such acts against humanity in the strongest possible terms. Such barbarism must be strongly rejected globally," he said on X.

Kharge extended his heartfelt condolences to Afghan brothers and sisters and to the families who have lost their loved ones.

"India shares longstanding bonds of friendship and goodwill with the people of Afghanistan. In this difficult moment, we stand in sympathy with our Afghan neighbours and pray for peace, healing, and stability for their nation," Kharge said.

Afghanistan's deputy government spokesman said early Tuesday that the death toll from an air strike by Pakistan that hit a hospital treating drug users in the Afghan capital Kabul has increased to 400.

In a post on X, Hamdullah Fitrat said the strike on Monday night had destroyed large sections of the hospital. He said the death toll so far stood at 400, while a further 250 people had been reported injured.

Fitrat said rescue teams were trying to control the fire at the building and recover the bodies of the victims.

The fighting began in late February after Afghanistan launched cross-border attacks in response to Pakistani air strikes inside Afghanistan that Kabul said killed civilians.

The clashes disrupted a ceasefire brokered by Qatar in October after earlier fighting killed dozens of soldiers, civilians and suspected militants.