The Afghan Taliban government said the strike, which hit a facility in the capital late on Monday as patients and staff were praying ahead of the end of Ramadan, also wounded at least 265 people.

The casualty figures have not been independently verified.The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) told Reuters that 143 people were killed and 119 wounded, offering a significantly lower toll than Afghan authorities.

Relatives gathered at the site on Wednesday, combing through lists and debris in search of loved ones who had been undergoing treatment at the centre.

“We came here looking for our patient, he is missing,” said Mazar, 50, who gave only one name.

“We checked the lists, but his name was not in the list of the living. Maybe he is injured or has been killed.”Afghanistan’s interior ministry said funerals for some of those killed would take place later in the day.

Afghan authorities said the strike hit a well-known civilian rehabilitation centre, formerly a NATO military base known as Camp Phoenix that had been converted into a treatment facility about a decade ago.

Pakistan rejected those claims, stating that its forces had “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure,” disputing assertions that civilians were the primary victims.

Independent experts said verifying the exact nature of the target would be difficult without a third-party investigation, given sharply conflicting accounts from both sides.

The strike marks a sharp deterioration in relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, already strained by cross-border security concerns. The incident comes amid broader regional instability linked to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, further complicating the security landscape.

”Ahmad, a 50-year-old patient undergoing treatment at the facility, said he watched helplessly as fire engulfed the dormitory he shared with 25 others. He was the only one to survive.

“The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday,” he told Reuters, describing how cries for help echoed through the building as the blaze spread rapidly following the explosions.

The Taliban-led government in Kabul said at least 400 people were killed and around 250 injured in the attack making it one of the deadliest incidents in the Afghan capital in recent months.

Pakistani officials, however, denied targeting any civilian or medical facility, stating that the strikes were aimed at militant infrastructure.

The incident underscores escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have seen periodic flare-ups along their shared border. The latest strike comes during the holy month of Ramadan, a time typically marked by restraint but increasingly overshadowed by violence in the region.

Ahmad said the attack came shortly after evening prayers, when patients had gathered inside their dormitory. Within moments, explosions ripped through the premises,triggering fires that spread uncontrollably.

Trapped inside, many were unable to escape.Mohammad Mian, a radiology worker at the hospital, described the destruction as overwhelming. He said many patients were housed in container-like units across the campus, where survival chances were slim once the bombs struck.

“It was extremely terrifying,” he said. “Those who survived were the ones whose rooms were not destroyed. But where the bombs fell, everyone there was killed.”When Reuters reporters visited the site on Tuesday, they found charred walls, collapsed structures, and debris scattered across the premises.

Personal belongings pillows, shoes, and clothing lay buried under rubble, silent reminders of those who had lived there just hours before.Inside Ahmad’s dormitory, some bunk beds remained upright, their bedding eerily undisturbed.

The ceiling had been blown away, exposing the room to the sky. The contrast between intact objects and total destruction around them highlighted the randomness of survival.Dr. Ahmad Wali Yousafzai, a health officer at the facility, said the hospital housed around 2,000 patients at the time of the strike. He recalled hearing three powerful explosions that sent shockwaves through the building.

“The blasts threw people from one wall to another,” he said. “Then fires started, and there were screams for help from all directions.”Medical staff and volunteers struggled to respond amid the chaos.

With limited personnel and resources, many victims could not be reached in time.“We were too few in number to save all of them,” Yousafzai added.

Emergency responders worked through the night and into the next day. Ambulance driver Haji Fahim said he transported at least eight bodies over several hours to a nearby facility, the Afghan-Japan Hospital.

“Now we have come again,” he said on Tuesday. “There are still bodies under the rubble.”The taliban government condemned the strike and called for international attention, while Islamabad reiterated that its operation targeted what it described as “terrorist support infrastructure.”

The conflicting accounts could not be independently verified.Analysts say the incident risks further destabilizing an already fragile relationship between the two neighbours, where cross-border militancy, refugee flows, and security concerns have long fueled mistrust.

For survivors like Ahmad, however, the geopolitical narratives offer little comfort. Standing amid the ruins, he said the memories of that night the flames, the screams, and the helplessness would stay with him forever.

“I could hear them calling for help,” he said quietly. “But there was nothing I could do.”

For the first time since 1993, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and the Christian season of Lent are unfolding at the same time, bringing together two traditions of fasting, prayer and reflection that rarely coincide on the calendar.

In the Williams household, that coincidence has turned into a deeply personal experience of faith, patience and mutual understanding.“We fast for different reasons, but the spirit feels the same,” said Kaosara, a practicing Muslim. “It is about discipline, gratitude and remembering those who have less.”

“Her husband, Olanrewaju, a devout Christian, agrees.Both of us wake up early, both of us pray more than usual, and both of us try to be kinder,” he said. “In many ways, the house feels more peaceful during this time.”

Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar, shifting earlier each year by about 10 to 11 days in the Gregorian calendar. Lent, observed by many Christian denominations, is calculated based on the date of Easter.

Because the two calendars move differently, their overlap is rare. The last time Ramadan and Lent coincided significantly was more than three decades ago.For families like the Williamses, the convergence has created a unique moment where two spiritual traditions mirror each other in daily life.

Ramadan requires Muslims to fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from food, drink and other physical needs while focusing on prayer, charity and spiritual renewal.Lent, which lasts about 40 days leading up to Easter, traditionally involves fasting, abstinence and acts of repentance.

Many Christians give up certain foods or habits as a form of sacrifice.Although the practices differ, the underlying themes are strikingly similar.“Both traditions emphasize self-discipline and compassion,” said Olanrewaju. “You begin to notice how often faith teaches us the same lessons in different languages.”

Despite observing different traditions, the couple has learned to structure their day around each other’s routines.Before sunrise, they share the pre-dawn meal known as suhoor, which allows Kaosara to eat before the day’s fast begins.

Later in the evening, she breaks her fast at sunset with dates and water, followed by dinner.Olanrewaju does not follow the same fasting schedule but often waits until sunset to eat with her.“It feels right,” he said. “If she has been fasting all day, I can wait a few more hours.”Their dining table has become a quiet symbol of interfaith harmony.

On some evenings, Christian prayers blend with Islamic invocations. On others, they simply sit together in silence, grateful for the meal before them.“For us, food has become a reminder of patience,” Kaosara said.

Nigeria, like many parts of the world, has seen religious tensions over the years. Yet interfaith families such as the Williamses challenge the narrative that different beliefs must create division.

The couple married more than two decades ago, deciding early that their home would respect both traditions equally.Their children grew up learning about the Quran and the Bible, attending both church services and Islamic celebrations.

“At home we never said one faith is better,” said Olanrewaju. “We said faith is about becoming a better human being.”During Ramadan, their home often fills with visitors arriving for the evening meal. During Christmas and Easter, the same friends return to celebrate Christian holidays.

“The house becomes busy all year,” Kaosara said with a laugh. “But that is how we like it.”

Religious scholars say fasting has long served as a spiritual bridge across cultures.In Islam, Ramadan commemorates the period when the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, and fasting is considered one of the Five Pillars of the faith.

In Christianity, Lent recalls the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.Both traditions encourage believers to look inward, strengthen their connection with God and show compassion toward others.For the Williams family, these teachings are not abstract ideas but daily practices.

“When you fast, you become more aware of your actions,” said Kaosara. “You think before you speak. You try to control anger. You remember people who cannot afford food.”Olanrewaju says Lent carries similar lessons.“Giving something up reminds you that life is not just about comfort,” he said.

As global headlines often highlight religious conflict, the quiet routines inside the Williams home offer a different narrative.

In the early morning darkness, when the household wakes for prayer, there is no debate about doctrine or theology. Instead, there is a shared understanding that faith, in its many forms, can coexist under the same roof.

Neighbors sometimes ask the couple how they manage the differences.Their answer is simple.“We focus on what faith teaches us about kindness,” said Olanrewaju.

The coincidence of Ramadan and Lent will last only a few weeks this year before the calendars drift apart again. But for families like the Williamses, the experience will leave a lasting impression.As sunset approaches one evening, Kaosara arranges dates and water on the table, waiting for the moment to break her fast.

Olanrewaju sits beside her, quietly reading a devotional passage.Outside, the evening call to prayer echoes through the neighborhood.

Inside the house, the couple prepares to eat together two faiths, sharing one table, in a season of reflection that belongs to them both.

Authorities said the directive applies nationwide and is intended to cut electricity consumption and reduce traffic congestion, which officials say contributes to higher fuel use. University campuses in the country consume large amounts of electricity for residential halls, classrooms, laboratories and air-conditioning systems, placing additional strain on the national power grid.

Officials said the early closure of universities is part of emergency measures designed to ease pressure on the country’s power system as energy supplies tighten.

Government and private schools in Bangladesh are already closed for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, meaning most educational institutions across the country will remain shut during this period.

The decision comes as Bangladesh faces growing uncertainty over fuel and gas supplies following disruptions to global energy markets caused by the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The country relies on imports for about 95% of its energy needs, making it highly vulnerable to volatility in international fuel markets.Authorities imposed daily limits on fuel sales on Friday after panic buying and stockpiling intensified pressure on domestic supplies.

As part of wider efforts to reduce electricity consumption, the government has also asked foreign-curriculum schools and private coaching centres to suspend operations during the same period.

Severe gas shortages have already forced Bangladesh to halt operations at four of its five state-run fertiliser factories, redirecting available gas to power plants to prevent widespread electricity outages. The country has also turned to the spot market to purchase liquefied natural gas at sharply higher prices while seeking additional cargoes to bridge supply gaps.

“We are doing everything we can to reduce consumption and ensure stability in power, fuel and import supplies,” a senior energy ministry official said.