Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim
Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim
Afghan Taliban officials reported that over 400 individuals perished, with 265 others injured, following a Pakistan missile strike on a drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul. This incident marks the deadliest event since hostilities between the two nations resumed in October 2025. Pakistan swiftly disputed the report, labeling it as false and misleading, and asserted that its forces had “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure” during the attack.
China’s mediation efforts were highlighted hours after the Kabul airstrike, with officials expressing readiness to resume talks to ease the escalating tensions. Prior attempts by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia had faltered, leaving the dispute without a clear resolution. Amir Khan Muttaqi, the Taliban’s foreign minister, stated that Afghanistan had lost confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution, according to his office’s statement.
Conflicting Claims on Target
Hamdullah Fitrat, a Taliban deputy spokesperson, shared on X that the attack occurred at 9 p.m. Monday and struck the state-run Omid Hospital, which he described as a 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation center. However, the Pakistani Information Ministry countered, noting that Omid Hospital was miles from Camp Phoenix, the “military terrorist ammunition and equipment storage site” it claimed was the actual target.
“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.
Kabul residents, including a Reuters journalist, confirmed that Camp Phoenix—an abandoned NATO military base—had been repurposed as a drug treatment center a decade ago. Locals referred to it as Omid Camp or “camp of hope,” though its official designation was “Ibn Sina Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital.” Witnesses emphasized that the Omid Hospital and Omid Camp were distinct locations, with the latter being the site of the airstrike.
Historical Context of the Conflict
The clash between the former allies has intensified in recent weeks, with Pakistani airstrikes targeting Afghanistan’s military and militant strongholds. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants that launch attacks on its territory, while the Taliban insists this is Pakistan’s internal issue. The ongoing dispute has left the region’s shared border, spanning 2,600 kilometers, as a flashpoint for violence.
At the strike location, a blackened single-story building stood as a testament to the destruction, its walls scorched by flames. Nearby structures were reduced to piles of rubble, with only a few bunk beds remaining intact in some areas. Personal items, blankets, and bedding were scattered across the ground, according to on-site reports.
Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qanie confirmed 408 fatalities and 265 injuries, though details on casualty counting were not provided. Another Taliban official, Hafizullah Maroof, noted that at least 102 bodies were transported to the Kabul Forensic Medical Department. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid added that the victims were primarily civilians and addicts.
International Response and Eyewitness Accounts
“I drove past the site and saw hundreds of civilians dead and injured,” said Susan Ferguson, the UN Women Special Representative in Afghanistan, during a virtual briefing in New York.
The Norwegian Refugee Council, an independent aid group, reported seeing significant casualties at the facility. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also expressed concern, stating that dozens had been killed and injured and calling for immediate de-escalation.
Residents recounted hearing three bombs detonate as people gathered for evening prayers at the center. Two of the explosions hit rooms and patient areas, leaving the scene described as “doomsday” by Ahmad, a 5-year-old survivor.
