Horror in Kabul: Afghanistan Accuses Pakistan of Massacring 400 in Hospital Airstrike

By Editorial Team, March 17, 2026

Ivan Marc / Shutterstock

Afghanistan's Taliban government has accused Pakistan of a devastating airstrike on a major drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul, claiming at least 400 people killed and 250 injured in the attack late Monday.

The strike reportedly hit the Omid (Hope) facility — a 2,000-bed center treating drug addiction — in Police District 9, destroying large sections and sparking massive rescue operations. Taliban spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said rescue teams are still pulling bodies from the rubble, warning the toll could rise further.

Pakistan immediately denied targeting any civilian or health site, insisting its airstrikes that day focused solely on “terrorist support infrastructure” and military installations in Kabul and eastern provinces. Islamabad called the Afghan casualty figures exaggerated and “false.” No independent verification of the exact death toll has been possible yet, though local media and eyewitness accounts describe heavy destruction and ongoing recovery efforts.

The incident marks a sharp escalation in longstanding border tensions between the neighbors, already strained by cross-border militancy and refugee issues. The United Nations has urged de-escalation and civilian protection, while international observers call for an independent investigation.

This tragedy comes against a backdrop of rising regional instability, with the strike drawing widespread condemnation from Afghan officials who labeled it a deliberate attack on vulnerable civilians. As bodies continue to be recovered and families search for loved ones, the attack risks further inflaming relations and destabilizing an already fragile region. Global calls for restraint are growing louder amid fears of broader conflict spillover.