Afghanistan says Pakistan hit Kabul rehab center killing 408, Islamabad rejects claim

Attack Claims and Responses

Afghanistan’s Taliban administration reported that Pakistan’s airstrike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul resulted in over 400 deaths and 265 injuries, marking the most severe attack since hostilities resumed in October of the previous year. The incident occurred on Monday, with Pakistan dismissing the claim as false and asserting it had “accurately targeted military facilities and terrorist support hubs.”

“The visible secondary detonations after the strikes clearly indicate the presence of large ammunition depots,” said Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, emphasizing the military nature of the attack.

Hospital Details and Conflicting Accounts

The Taliban’s deputy spokesperson, Hamdullah Fitrat, stated the strike hit the state-run Omid Hospital, a 2,000-bed facility they described as a drug treatment center. However, Pakistan’s information ministry argued the facility was miles away from Camp Phoenix, a “military ammunition and equipment storage site.”

Kabul residents, including a Reuters journalist, claimed Camp Phoenix—formerly a NATO base—was 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.”

Casualty Numbers and Verification

Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Mateen Qanie confirmed 408 fatalities and 265 injuries, though details on how casualties were tallied remained unclear. A Taliban official, Hafizullah Maroof, noted at least 102 bodies were transported to Kabul’s forensic department, with most victims identified as civilians and addicts.

Independent verification of the figures has been challenging, as both sides continue to assert heavy damage to the other. The Norwegian Refugee Council reported seeing “large numbers of casualties” at the scene, while the UNAMA called for immediate de-escalation, highlighting the toll on civilians.

International Reactions and Eyewitness Accounts

China’s recent mediation efforts to ease tensions between the two nations were overshadowed by the attack, which followed failed attempts by Qatar, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. The EU reiterated that civilian and medical sites are protected under international law, labeling the strike “a deadly escalation in a conflict that demands swift resolution.”

“There were many families there trying to find their loved ones,” Susan Ferguson, the UN Women Special Representative, described during a virtual briefing in New York, emphasizing the “devastating” aftermath.

Witnesses recounted hearing three bombs detonate as people concluded evening prayers at the center. “The whole place caught fire. It was like doomsday,” said Ahmad, a 5-year-old survivor, capturing the chaos of the attack.