Kabul, 17 March: Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government has accused Pakistan of carrying out an airstrike on a major drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, alleging that up to 400 people may have been killed in one of the deadliest incidents in the recent escalation between the two neighbours.
Officials said the strike hit the facility on Monday evening, when roughly 2,000 patients were believed to be undergoing treatment. While the exact toll remains unverified, eyewitness accounts and footage from the scene showed dozens of bodies being removed as parts of the building continued to burn.
Afghan authorities strongly denied the presence of any სამხედრო or militant infrastructure near the site. A government spokesperson described the attack as “targeting hospitals and civilian sites to perpetrate horrors,” adding that it amounted to “a crime against humanity.”
Pakistan, however, rejected the allegations, maintaining that its military operations were limited to “precise” strikes against what it called militant-linked infrastructure. Officials said the targets included ammunition storage sites and logistical hubs allegedly used by armed groups hostile to Pakistan. Islamabad dismissed Kabul’s claims as “false and misleading,” accusing Afghan authorities of attempting to deflect attention from cross-border militancy.
The incident underscores a sharp deterioration in relations between the two countries since late February, when cross-border exchanges intensified following earlier airstrikes and retaliatory attacks. Both sides have since traded accusations of harbouring insurgent groups and violating each other’s sovereignty.
Residents in Kabul reported hearing powerful explosions around 9 p.m., followed by aircraft activity and air defence responses. Emergency crews worked through the night, pulling victims from the rubble and battling fires that engulfed sections of the hospital complex.
The rising violence has drawn international concern. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan says at least 75 people have been killed and nearly 200 injured in cross-border clashes since late February. Meanwhile, China has urged both sides to “remain calm and exercise restraint,” calling for immediate dialogue.
Diplomatic pressure is also mounting at the United Nations Security Council, which has condemned ongoing violence and reiterated calls to combat terrorism while avoiding civilian harm.
If confirmed, the reported hospital strike could represent a serious breach of international humanitarian norms, potentially intensifying global scrutiny and further destabilizing an already volatile region.
