Kabul – A letter issued by the Taliban Ministry of Health has ordered the employees and the facilities of the Muhammad Ali Jinnah Hospital to be relocated to the Ahmad Shah Baba Hospital prompting a backlash of protests among the people of the area and casting doubt on the future of a major icon of Pakistan-Afghan friendship.

The relocation, initiated on Wednesday with the transfer of equipment, has undergone massive resistance, especially among the Hazara population living in the Dasht-e-Barchi locality, in which the hospital is situated.

Although the transfer has been going on, Taliban officials have refuted any permanent merger, saying it is a temporary shift to help make repairs at Jinnah Hospital.

This clarification has, however, contributed little to dispel the concerns of the inhabitants or to respond to the questions posed by Islamabad.

Concerns Over Damaged Equipment and Continued Funding

The move to transfer the equipment of the hospital has sparked a chain of logistical and financial issues. It may cause damage to the medical equipment during the move.

A major question regarding the continuation of financial aid arises as Pakistan is now covering the salaries of the staff and is funding the hospital. Would it continue to do the same after a merger?

This action has been widely perceived as a deliberate step to neutralize a prominent symbol of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The symbolic connotations are especially vivid in their contrast to the position of the Indira Gandhi Hospital, which is a medical institution financed by India, and which still functions without any instructions of the Taliban regime.

Pakistan has begun negotiations with Afghan officials to resolve the issue, in reaction to the emerging scenario, through the Foreign Office and Special Representative, Ambassador Sadiq.

The diplomatic talks are intended to clarify and address the matters surrounding the future of the hospital, and it is hoped that a solution will be arrived at which will leave the hospital services accessible to the community.

Pakistan has begun negotiations with Afghan officials to resolve the issue. The diplomatic talks are intended to clarify and address the matters surrounding the future of the hospital, and it is hoped that a solution will be arrived at which will leave the hospital services accessible to the community. 

A Critical Lifeline for the Local Community

To the people of Dasht-e-Barchi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah Hospital is not merely a healthcare facility; it is an important lifeline. Its opening was hailed as a huge humanitarian act, offering healthcare services that were long-awaited in the underserved region.

The local community objections are based on the fear of losing any access to such services and a rooted distrust of any action that might undermine the functionality of the hospital.