At least 400 people have reportedly been killed, with about 250 others injured, following a devastating airstrike on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Authorities under the Taliban administration have accused Pakistan of carrying out the strike, describing it as a serious escalation in the already strained relationship between the two neighbouring nations. The attack, said to have occurred late Monday night, reportedly targeted a major state-run rehabilitation facility, leaving much of the complex destroyed and sparking a large fire that engulfed patients and staff.
In response, the Pakistani government denied any involvement in an attack on civilian infrastructure, calling the allegations “false and misleading.” Officials in Islamabad stated that any military action undertaken was part of a coordinated counter-terrorism effort aimed strictly at militant targets.
Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, said the operation focused on “military installations and terrorist support infrastructure,” adding that secondary explosions at the site suggested the presence of ammunition depots.
The incident has further heightened tensions between the two countries, whose relationship has deteriorated in recent weeks, particularly along their roughly 2,600-kilometre shared border.
The reported strike came just hours after China called for restraint, urging both sides to avoid further escalation and return to dialogue. Beijing has been among nations attempting to mediate the growing conflict.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos at the hospital, with explosions reportedly occurring during evening prayers. Survivors recounted a rapidly spreading fire that left many trapped.
“The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday,” said one survivor, who described being unable to save fellow patients as flames engulfed the building.
Emergency responders arriving at the scene reported bodies scattered amid burning debris, with rescue efforts continuing into the following day as teams searched for victims trapped under the rubble.
Local media images showed heavily damaged buildings, thick smoke rising into the night sky, and rescue workers evacuating the injured. Parts of the facility were reduced to rubble, with personal belongings strewn across the compound.
Taliban officials said the strike hit the Omid rehabilitation hospital around 9 p.m., a government-run centre established to treat drug addiction and provide vocational support for patients.
Casualty figures have not been independently verified, as access to the site remains restricted and both sides continue to exchange accusations.
Meanwhile, United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, expressed concern over reports of civilian casualties and called for restraint. He urged all parties to respect international law and protect civilians as well as critical infrastructure, including hospitals.
As rescue operations continue, there are fears the death toll may rise further, worsening the humanitarian situation and deepening concerns over the direction of the conflict between the two countries.
