Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim
Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim
Pakistan’s Airstrike Claims and Afghan Counterstatement
On Tuesday, an Afghan Taliban official reported that Pakistan’s aerial attack on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul resulted in over 400 fatalities and 265 injuries, marking the most severe incident since hostilities began in October 2025. The attack occurred Monday night, according to the Taliban’s account. Pakistan, however, denounced the report as false, asserting that its strike precisely targeted military facilities and militant support infrastructure.
“The visible secondary detonations after the strikes clearly indicate the presence of large ammunition depots,” said Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s Information Minister, in a post on X.
Conflicting Narratives and Location Details
Pakistan’s information ministry clarified that the Omid Hospital, a 2,000-bed facility, was miles from Camp Phoenix, which it described as a “military terrorist ammunition and equipment storage site.” Afghan officials, meanwhile, stated that the attack struck the state-run Omid Hospital, which they linked to the former NATO base now repurposed as a drug treatment center. Locals referred to the site as Omid Camp, or “camp of hope,” though it officially bore the name “Ibn Sina Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital.”
International Mediation and Diplomatic Strains
China stepped in to mediate tensions following the attack, expressing readiness to continue efforts to calm the situation. The Taliban, however, expressed skepticism, citing previous failed attempts by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to broker peace. Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan’s foreign minister, stated that the country had lost trust in Pakistan’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution.
Witness Accounts and Casualty Reports
Residents of Kabul, including a Reuters correspondent, recounted that the former NATO base, now converted into a drug treatment center, was hit during evening prayers. “The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday,” said Ahmad, 5. Eyewitnesses reported three bombs detonating simultaneously, with two striking rooms and patient areas. Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qanie confirmed 408 deaths and 265 injuries, while another Taliban official noted that at least 102 bodies were transported to the Kabul Forensic Medical Department. The majority of the victims were civilians and addicts, added Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
“We visited the hospital treating addicts in Kabul this morning and found hundreds of civilians dead and injured,” stated the Norwegian Refugee Council in an independent report.
Global Responses and Calls for De-escalation
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported multiple casualties and urged immediate de-escalation. The EU echoed this, emphasizing that civilian and medical sites are protected under international law and calling the strike “another deadly escalation in a conflict that needs to end as soon as possible.”
Amid the ongoing dispute, the Taliban and Pakistan have both claimed heavy losses, but independent verification remains challenging. The attack has reignited tensions between the two nations, who share a 2,600-kilometer border and have been at odds since October 2025.
