Afghanistan’s Taliban government has accused Pakistan of conducting an airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, an attack it claims killed at least 400 people. Pakistan has denied the allegation, stating its military operations target only terrorist infrastructure and not civilian facilities.
According to Taliban spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat, the strike late on Monday heavily damaged the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital. He reported a death toll of 400 with approximately 250 others injured. Video footage published by Afghan media showed a burning building, adding visual weight to the claim.
The International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) has condemned the attack, describing it as a stark violation of international humanitarian law and human rights principles. In a statement, the IHRF called for an independent investigation into the incident.
Pakistan’s Information Ministry has rejected the accusation as “false and misleading,” asserting that its forces deliberately targeted military sites and “terrorist support infrastructure,” including ammunition depots in Kabul and Nangarhar province. The ministry suggested the characterization of the target as a drug rehabilitation centre was a deliberate attempt to mislead public opinion and obscure what it called Afghanistan’s support for cross-border militancy.
This incident fits into a broader pattern of escalating tension between the two neighbours. Since February, Pakistan has carried out multiple strikes inside Afghanistan, citing intelligence on militant camps used by groups it blames for attacks on Pakistani soil. Notably, Pakistan links this to a February suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad that killed over 30 people—an attack the Taliban has consistently denied facilitating.
The current claims highlight the fragile security dynamics along the border. Both sides present contradictory narratives, with Afghanistan emphasizing civilian casualties and humanitarian law, while Pakistan frames its actions as necessary self-defence against terrorist threats operating from Afghan soil. The stark discrepancy in casualty figures and target descriptions underscores the deep mutual distrust.
The humanitarian impact, as reported by Afghan authorities, would represent one of the deadliest single incidents since the Taliban’s return to power. International calls for transparency and a credible inquiry are likely to intensify, as the incident risks further straining regional stability and complicating Afghanistan’s diplomatic isolation.
