Hundreds have reportedly lost their lives in a Pakistani airstrike on a drug rehabilitation centre in Kabul, Afghanistan, BBC reported quoting forensic sources.
Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the death toll had “so far” reached 400 people, while about 250 people had been reported injured. He said most of those killed and wounded were patients undergoing treatment at the facility.
Some victims were severely disfigured, making identification difficult. Taliban officials have claimed the death toll could be significantly higher, while the UN has called for an urgent investigation.
Pakistan denied intentionally targeting civilians, stating that its forces carried out precise strikes against militant infrastructure. However, Afghan officials insist that no military facilities were located near the treatment centre.
The strike comes amid renewed tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad accusing Kabul of sheltering militants – a claim Afghanistan denies. The targeted facility, known as the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, was housing around 2,000 patients at the time.
Residents reported loud explosions across Kabul, followed by aircraft activity and air defence responses. Families gathered outside the facility searching for missing relatives.
While Taliban authorities claim the death toll may have reached 400, this has not been independently confirmed.
