Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim
Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim
On Monday night, Pakistan launched an airstrike that reportedly targeted a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul, resulting in the deaths of over 400 individuals and injuring 265, according to a Taliban spokesperson. The attack, described as the deadliest since hostilities erupted in October 2025, has sparked intense debate over the accuracy of the casualty figures and the intended target.
Pakistan swiftly dismissed the claim, asserting that its strike was “precisely aimed at military installations and terrorist support infrastructure.” The country’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, emphasized that the Omid Hospital, which the Taliban accused of being hit, was miles away from the actual target—Camp Phoenix, a former NATO base repurposed for storing ammunition and equipment.
The incident unfolded hours after China announced its readiness to resume mediating between the two nations to ease growing tensions. This follows earlier failed attempts by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to broker peace. Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, stated that Afghanistan has lost confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution, citing a statement from his office.
Hamdullah Fitrat, a Taliban deputy spokesperson, shared details of the strike, noting it occurred at 9 p.m. local time and targeted the state-run Omid Hospital, which he claimed operated as a 2,000-bed drug treatment center. However, locals refer to the facility as Omid Camp, or “camp of hope,” though its official designation is “Ibn Sina Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital.” Witnesses insist that the camp, once an abandoned NATO base, was converted into a rehabilitation center a decade ago and is distinct from the hospital.
“The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday,” said Ahmad, a 5-year-old survivor.
Fighting between the former allies has escalated, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of sheltering militants who conduct attacks on Pakistani territory. The Taliban counter that combating militancy is Pakistan’s domestic issue. At the strike site, remnants of a blackened building stood as evidence, while nearby structures were reduced to piles of debris. A few bunk beds remained intact, and personal items lay scattered in the aftermath.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qanie confirmed 408 fatalities and 265 injuries, though details on how the toll was calculated remain unclear. Another Taliban official, Hafizullah Maroof, reported that at least 102 bodies were transported to the Kabul Forensic Medical Department. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, added that the victims were predominantly civilians and addicts. Reuters, however, noted that it could not independently verify the casualty numbers.
International Reactions
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) called the strike a “deadly escalation” in a conflict that demands immediate de-escalation. The EU echoed similar concerns, stating that civilian and medical facilities are protected under international law and condemning the attack as a further setback in efforts to end the violence.
Susan Ferguson, the UN Women Special Representative in Afghanistan, described the scene from a video briefing in New York as “devastating.” She noted seeing families searching for loved ones amid the destruction. The Norwegian Refugee Council, an independent aid organization, confirmed that its staff observed a large number of casualties, highlighting the severe impact on the local population.
